Andrew Cuomo Will Be The Next Mayor of New York City

Morning. For the new folks, the format is simple; I read the top story in the New York Times each morning so that you don’t have to. If you were forwarded this, you can subscribe here.

Today’s top story has three bylines and you can read it here. Four deputy mayors have quit after President Donald Trump’s justice department dropped charges against their boss, Eric Adams, last week. The story says they oversee much of New York City government, “and their departure is poised to blow a devastating hole in Mr. Adams’s already wounded administration.” I think that’s possibly taking it a bit far given that New York City government hasn’t been able to open the recreation center in our neighborhood for going on five years, now, regardless. But it’s another blow for the mayor in a week of blows. Let’s agree to that.

One anonymous source, eh? That’s some thin sourcing for a politically motivated front page hit, I must say.

I think their proxy statement might also be code for their thinking that he’s unlikely to survive a reelection fight although never bet against an incumbent, especially one who has “publicly sidled up to” Donald Trump. I rode past the Trump rally at Madison Square Garden on a citibike the day before the November election and it was like something out of Berlin in the 1930s.

The governor, Kathy Hochul, is also “under increasing pressure to remove [Adams] from office,” the story reports, although no governor has done that in 235 years and she’s meeting with officials today to “discuss a path forward.” That means she’s floating the idea but unlikely to follow through. I’d be amazed if she did it because it’s such overreach, and I’m not sure I’d agree with it if she did. My sense is firmly that the voters should be the ones to decide on an office this significant. The picture is also complicated because Adams’ likely replacement in the next election is Andrew Cuomo, whom Hochul supplanted. Would she want to speed his rise to power so that he can make her life a misery? No.

Adams issued a statement wishing the deputy mayors well (which was nice of him, in the circumstances) and saying New York City will “keep moving forward.” That means he’ll also continue cooperating with Trump on immigration enforcement, something he trailed on Fox News last week.

What is it with these Republican officials and butt metaphors? Elon Musk described press scrutiny of his work at DOGE as “like a daily proctology exam” last week.

The messaging flowchart should read as follows:

“DOES WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY INCLUDE A BUTT METAPHOR?”

NO? OKAY, GO AHEAD.

YES? DON’T USE IT.

Meanwhile I just went to a betting website called PredictIt to confirm my sense of the next steps for New York:

So that’s pretty clear. I do feel dreadful for everyone rated below 10 cents here. Jumaane Williams, as public advocate, would become mayor if Adams resigns. But that’s not going to happen, now. Particularly not since the Times reported he was readying for himself for it:

As a reminder, the sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo were serious and repeated, although relatively minor compared to the President being found liable for sexually abusing and defaming Jean Carroll in the changing rooms at Bergdorf Goodman.

The Democrats have always striven to be holier than the Republicans when it comes to harassing women, especially since Bill Clinton’s disgrace over his treatment of Monica Lewinsky, and for good reason given their more progressive stance on a woman’s right to choose. Or work. Or think. Or exist. They have cleaned house aggressively to uphold that principle, notably in the case of former Senator Al Franken who was forced to resign.

Cuomo subsequently apologized for his behavior in tones reminiscent of one’s more conservative neighbors:

Although he later reemerged and blamed “cancel culture” for his fall. And make no mistake, he’s writing his next chapter as we speak.

You’re welcome.

Matt Davis lives in Manhattan with his wife and kid.