Julie Won is a Feral Raccoon?

Espaillat Flexes Institutional Muscle — Menin Front and Center

Rep. Adriano Espaillat showed up to a major Harlem labor rally this week alongside an impressive crew of elected officials — including Council Speaker Julie Menin front and center. Espaillat is facing a primary challenge from Darializa Avila Chevalier, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani‘s endorsement of Chevalier has set off a wave of reactions. The labor rally was a classic show of institutional strength, with Espaillat reminding everyone that his coalition runs deep, including support from Governor Kathy Hochul.

As we enter June tomorrow, let’s talk about upcoming primaries and vacant seats: The Alex Bores Assembly seat has only one candidate — Vanessa Aronson, who previously served as president of the Lexington Democratic Club, and recently hosted an event where Council Member Virginia Maloney was a featured guest. Mamdani-backed candidates running for open seats include Samantha Kattan (Claire Valdez seat), Aber Kawas (Mike Giannaris seat), and Illapa Sairitupac (Grace Lee seat), all NYC-DSA members, plus Brian Romero (Jessica González-Rojas seat) and Eli Northrup (Micah Lasher seat), both Working Families Party-backed.

Notably, Mamdani did not endorse any challenger to a sitting state legislator — backing only four of NYC-DSA’s eight-candidate slate. It is a careful, coalition-building move from a mayor who knows Albany is complicated and he needs friends in that building.

Rabbi Stephanie Ruskay (endorsed by NYC Council Majority Leader Shaun Abreu) is also running for Micah Lasher‘s open Assembly seat. Attorney General Letitia James has endorsed Assemblymember Grace Lee in her race for retiring state Senator Brian Kavanagh‘s seat, against Working Families Party-backed Yuh-Line Niou.

Mamdani Kills Adams-Era Charter Commission, Launches His Own

Mayor Zohran Mamdani just killed Eric Adams’ parting gift — a last-minute charter commission — and launched his own, cheekily named COGE (Commission on Government Efficiency). The announcement hit shortly before the commission’s hearing, adding delicious timing drama. The commission’s lawyer is Randy Mastro, working pro bono. Mamdani‘s new commission will be chaired by Patrick Gaspard, a key adviser, and will focus on government efficiency. We look forward to the initial COGE hearing this week.

The EDC Seat Is Still Empty — And People Are Noticing

Mayor Zohran Mamdani‘s Economic Development Corporation is still without a permanent president, and NYC’s business community is getting antsy. At a City Council budget hearing this week, EDC’s interim president Jeanny Pak fielded questions about the leadership vacuum and notably punted the decision squarely to the mayor’s court: “The president is the mayor’s decision, and so we look forward to his decision.”

Julie Su Making the Rounds With NYC’s Power Players

Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su, the city’s first-ever deputy mayor in this role, met with the Partnership for NYC’s Steve Fulop, as the appetite for better public-private collaboration is real, and that in itself is reason to be optimistic. Her agenda centered on workers’ rights and affordability.

Bezos Family Drops $100M on Early Childhood Programs

Mayor Mamdani‘s universal childcare push just got a major boost: the Bezos family foundation dropped a $100 million endowed gift to Robin Hood for early childhood programs across all five boroughs. The mega-donation signals serious backing for one of the administration’s signature priorities.

Mamdani Fires Sheriff Miranda, Appoints NYPD Whistleblower Edwin Raymond

Mayor Zohran Mamdani fired Sheriff Anthony Miranda this week, tapping NYPD whistleblower Edwin Raymond as his replacement. Raymond, a whistleblower and NYPD critic, is already earning praise from AG Letitia James and DA Alvin Bragg. He is best known for blowing the whistle on NYPD quota systems and has been a vocal advocate for police reform. His appointment signals Mamdani‘s continued commitment to reshaping law enforcement culture in New York City.

NewsMax Segment: Brooklyn Food Co-op Boycott and the Rise of Antisemitism

Host Bianca Dela Garza and CUNY Professor Jeffrey Lax appeared on NewsMax this week with Council Member Joann Ariola to discuss the troubling rise in antisemitism across New York City, specifically addressing a Brooklyn food co-op’s boycott of Israeli goods. They made the case that boycotts of Israeli products harm Jewish New Yorkers and do nothing to advance Middle East peace.

TANY Wins Big on Commercial Auto Insurance & Tort Reforms

The Trucking Association of New York (TANY) scored major victories in Governor Hochul‘s budget, including Commercial Auto Insurance & Tort Reforms, CLCPA Changes, and SERQA Reform. The wins came after months of sustained advocacy — including 6AM drives to Albany, rallies, meetings, and interviews. Commercial auto is one of the largest expenses trucking companies pay, and a direct correlation on costs to consumers. TANY continues advocating for policies that support their members and keep New York moving.

No Chef-to-Community Tax Credit

Rethink Foods’ Chef-to-Community tax credit, designed to reward food establishments for donating chef-prepared meals to local non-profit organizations fighting food insecurity, was not passed by the Governor, even though City Harvest estimates 200,000 people will be forced into food insecurity this fall. The bill was sponsored by Charles Fall & Michelle Hinchey alongside dozens of advocacy and community groups.

Speaker Menin Honored as Council’s First Jewish Speaker — DC37 Awards Ceremony

NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin received the Jewish Heritage Public Service Champion Award from DC37 this week, closing out Jewish Heritage Month. The award was presented alongside Rabbi Alvin Kass, NYPD Chief Chaplain, and DC37 leadership. DC 37’s Jewish Heritage Committee fosters understanding of Jewish cultural issues and highlights the historic contributions of Jewish workers to the labor movement.

Worth noting: DC37 president Henry Garrido hosted Rep. Adriano Espaillat and Governor Kathy Hochul in the Dominican Republic a few months ago — to showcase how the DR was a safe haven for Jews during the Holocaust. And if you’re thinking Caribbean and synagogue: the oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere is on the island of Curaçao.

Jewish community leadership is closely monitoring how candidates address these issues in the 2026 cycle and rewarding those who take public stands against hate.

Queens BP Richards Hosts Jewish Heritage Month Event in District 29

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards hosted a Jewish Heritage Month event, acknowledging a cluster of antisemitic hate incidents in Council Member Lynn Schulman‘s District. The gathering brought together community leaders including JCRC’s Howard Pollack, WITNESS’s Evie Litwok, and Tomchei Shabbos of Queens’ Shimi Pelman.

Queens College Commencement — BP Richards Gets the Presidential Award

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards received the Presidential Award from Queens College — the highest honor bestowed by the college — and delivered the commencement address to the Class of 2026. Richards shared the stage with Queens College President Frank Wu, Rossana Rosado of CUNY Board of Trustees, Assemblyman Khaleel Anderson, and Council Member Jim Gennaro.

Bronx Ball — Robert Abrams Gets the Key to the Borough

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson threw the Bronx Ball — a glitzy evening celebrating the borough’s cultural icons and tourism champions. Former Bronx Borough President (and former AG) Robert Abrams received the Key to the Borough in recognition of his decades of public service, while Pregones/Puerto Ricans Traveling Together (PRTT) and The Bronx Children’s Museum took home major honors.

Port Authority’s Kathryn Garcia Gets Real About Mamdani at Crain’s Breakfast

At the Crain’s Power Breakfast Wednesday, Port Authority boss Kathryn Garcia dropped some candid takes about her relationship with Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Garcia revealed 5 World Trade Center is in limbo over steel costs — and got hilariously real about working with the new mayor: “We’ve not gotten to something where I’ve felt the need to call him and say, ‘Yo, Mr. Mayor why are you torturing us? Be nicer.'” She also closed the book on any future mayoral ambitions, saying she’s perfectly content running the agency. Deputy Mayor Julia Kerson, Silverstein Properties, and Brookfield Properties are all in the mix as the Port Authority rethinks the WTC project.

→ Chantel Jackson and members of the NYSBL Task Force on the steps of the State Capitol in Albany for what they called “Pastel Seersucker & Sundress Day.” (We love when politics and fashion unite.)

→ NYC Comptroller Mark Levine opening his office for a packed-house Jewish Heritage night sponsored by UJA Federation of New York, featuring the a cappella group Six13Sings.

→ Scott Stringer chatting up Assembly candidate Stephanie Ruskay at the 97th Street Greenmarket.

→ Council Member Lynn Schulman braved the rain to pay respects at Forest Hills’ Memorial Day parade, channeling her family’s military legacy — her dad and uncle fought in WWII’s toughest battles.

→ Council Member Carmen De La Rosa joined The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Assemblyman Manny de los Santos to celebrate the reopening of Dolphin Playground in Washington Heights.

→ Former Mayor Eric Adams praying at The Ohel for a safe Israel Day Parade

✨ Skye’s Personal Reflection

A 10-Year-Old to Watch: Charlotte Scibelli

Forget the consultants. Forget the mailers. Forget the field plan. Ten-year-old Charlotte Scibelli of Islip may have just run the most effective advocacy campaign on Long Island — and all she wanted was a slushie machine.

As part of a fourth-grade persuasive writing assignment at Sherwood Elementary, Charlotte wrote a letter to John Boccone, owner of Maple Street Deli, making the case that the neighborhood deli needed a slushie machine. But she didn’t stop at the essay. Charlotte got on her bike, knocked on doors, talked to classmates, friends and neighbors, and gathered 50 petition signatures. Her argument was simple, smart and deeply local: kids already love the deli, it is close to school, it would be safer than biking to busier streets, and she smartly pointed out that a slushie machine would probably make the business some money.

The deli listened. About a month later, Maple Street Deli had its slushie machine — and Charlotte reportedly gets free slushies for life.

The bigger shoutout here goes to Sherwood Elementary, Charlotte’s teacher, and the kind of assignment more schools should be replicating. This was not “politics” in the partisan sense. It was something better: a soft-touch introduction to advocacy, civics and how change actually happens. Identify a problem. Make a case. Build support. Ask the decision-maker. Follow through. That is grassroots advocacy at its purest.

Assemblyman Jarrett Gandolfo and Senator Alexis Weik — please keep this girl on your radar.

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