VERY SUPERSTITIOUS: In last night’s Game 4 of the NBA Finals, the San Antonio Spurs seemed set to dominate the Knicks for the first three quarters.
Yet, the Knicks pulled off an extraordinary comeback, erasing a 29-point deficit—a new NBA Finals record—and narrowly defeating San Antonio 107-106. This win places the Knicks just one victory away from their first championship in over fifty years.
In political discussions around New York, there is one prevailing theory for the Knicks’ stunning turnaround: the end of the so-called Trump curse.
“THANK YOU TO THE PEOPLE WHO BLESSED MSG TODAY TO GET THE STANK VIBES OUT,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shared on X just before midnight. “YOUR SERVICE IS APPRECIATED.”
The lawmaker’s emphatic message alluded to superstitious Knicks fans burning sage outside Madison Square Garden to rid it of bad vibes allegedly cast by President Donald Trump, who attended Game 3 on Monday (a game the Spurs won 115-111).
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards credited the halftime show by Staten Island’s Wu-Tang Clan with helping dispel negative energy. “Wu-Tang is for the children!!!” Richards posted on X alongside a video of the group’s performance, captioned: “Wu-Tang Clan have broken Donald Trump’s curse on the Knicks.”
Regardless of the beliefs, the Knicks’ playoff success has sparked a frenzy of supernatural explanations among New Yorkers, becoming a focal point for local politicians.
In an Instagram video uploaded late at night, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries proposed a mental strategy behind the Knicks’ latest success.
“Wemby tried to taunt the Knicks when they were up by about 29, suggesting that he was in our heads,” Jeffries commented in a video, referring to Spurs center Victor Wembanyama. “No. Actually Wemby, we were in your head.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Zohran Mamdani sought divine support for the Knicks.
“Knicks in five — inshallah, baby, let’s go,” he enthusiastically exclaimed on Hot 97 radio, using the Arabic term for “God willing.”
Game 5 of the Finals is scheduled for Saturday in San Antonio. A Knicks victory would secure their first championship since 1973.
However, the path for the Knickerbockers hasn’t been entirely smooth.
An NYPD spokesperson reported that 56 Knicks fans were detained last night following large and unruly crowds gathering near The Garden to “celebrate” the win.
The spokesperson noted that 10 officers sustained injuries during the chaos, including one who was struck in the head with a glass bottle while crowds climbed on moving vehicles, attempted to overturn a parked cab, and ignited fireworks.
“This demonstrates exactly why the NYPD has increased our presence in and around Madison Square Garden,” the police spokesperson stated.
The disorder occurred after Knicks owner James Dolan canceled a ticketed watch party outside MSG. Dolan was reportedly frustrated with Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch for restricting unauthorized pedestrian traffic in a large section of Midtown around the arena due to security concerns. — Chris Sommerfeldt
From the Capitol
MESSAGE RECEIVED: Gov. Kathy Hochul today addressed White House border czar Tom Homan’s warning of an impending ICE surge in New York.
“It’s not how we do things in New York,” Hochul declared at a Queens event. “Maybe Washington is a different breed there, and they think that intimidation and creating fear is a way to govern, and we’re just rejecting that here in the state of New York. That’s not who we are, never has been, never will be.”
Homan’s threats arose after Hochul and state legislators finalized a series of measures designed to protect undocumented immigrants, following an ICE deportation operation in Minneapolis. These bills would limit the execution of civil deportation warrants in sensitive locations and ban law enforcement, including ICE agents, from wearing masks.
Homan attributed the planned surge to Hochul’s decision to end so-called 287(g) agreements, which allow local law enforcement to collaborate with federal authorities.
Hochul argued that such a surge would contradict what Trump previously assured her. She pointed out that Homan’s logic is flawed because only nine counties in New York had participated in the 287(g) program—and none included any of New York City’s five counties.
“New York City, where we’re predicting he’ll send the agents to, has never had a 287(g) agreement. They’ve never been allowed to use the jails. Never been allowed to use local police enforcement,” the governor stated. “It is irrational. It shows that they do not comprehend what is happening in the state of New York.” — Leah Clark
FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS: A federal judge acquitted New York City Comptroller Brad Lander of misdemeanor obstruction charges on Thursday, related to blocking an elevator during a protest outside an immigrant holding area last year.
Lander faced the obstruction charge in September while advocating for detained immigrants at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan. Although he was offered a deal to drop the charge, he chose a trial to highlight federal immigration policies.
Lander explained he was present with state legislators to assess the facility’s conditions, not to intentionally block an elevator—and said he would have moved if asked. Judge Henry Ricardo, in his findings, noted Lander’s testimony was consistent with video evidence, adding that Lander did not appear to be purposefully blocking the elevator and seemed “tired and a bit resigned.”
“No offense to Mr. Lander,” the judge remarked.
Lander, who appeared in the courtroom with a Knicks hat, told reporters after the verdict: “I didn’t feel tired.”
“I felt an urgency to show up that day and try to fight what ICE is doing,” he expressed.
After a month’s delay, Lander finally had his day in court on Wednesday—less than two weeks before the primary election—bringing immigration issues to the forefront of his campaign against Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman.
Goldman, who frequently emphasizes his oversight visits at immigrant detention centers and his “triage center” for detainees near 26 Federal Plaza, has repeatedly criticized Lander’s approach to immigration. On Wednesday, he called Lander’s case “performative” and “self-promoting.” In a debate the previous week, Goldman challenged Lander’s claim of putting his “body on the line” for immigrants and criticized his fundraising efforts related to it.
“While Brad never did get the information he sought from ICE, I have all of that information from my weekly oversight visits and would be happy to brief him,” Goldman stated.
Read more from Madison Fernandez in POLITICO.Â
POLL POSITION: The contest between Rep. Adriano Espaillat and primary challenger Darializa Avila Chevalier is tight as the campaign nears its end, according to a poll favoring Avila Chevalier.
The survey, organized by Data for Progress for Justice Democrats, the progressive group that supported the challenger, indicated Avila Chevalier had 39 percent support compared to Espaillat’s 35 percent. Twenty-two percent of those surveyed remained undecided.
Conducted from June 3 to 9 among 319 likely Democratic primary voters, the poll followed Mamdani’s endorsement of Avila Chevalier—amidst negative attacks from pro-Espaillat groups. The margin of error is plus-or-minus 5 percentage points.
The survey also revealed that 86 percent of district respondents held a very favorable or somewhat favorable view of the mayor. Avila Chevalier is strongly emphasizing Mamdani’s endorsement.
While there is no public polling available for the race, it is clear Espaillat’s supporters are preparing for a close contest, as evidenced by the significant financial resources being allocated on his behalf in the final stages. — Madison Fernandez
FROM CITY HALL
2029 VISION: While many New York political figures are focused on this month’s primary elections, Mayor Zohran Mamdani is already planning beyond them.
In a text message sent this afternoon, the mayor urged supporters to contribute “any amount” to his 2029 reelection campaign, citing the need to begin fundraising now as opposition forces will be “better funded, better organized and ready to spend earlier than before.”
“Their fundraising is constant and prolific,” he wrote in the text obtained by Playbook. “In closed-door meetings, wealthy donors and insider operatives consider how to influence our politics year-round. That’s how our opponents secured the resources to spend $83 million against our movement last year … That’s why we’re making investments in our movement starting right now.”
Mamdani did not specify who the opposition comprises.
However, a group called NYC Common Sense, led by former independent mayoral candidate Jim Walden and political consultant Phil Singer, was launched last month with the goal of opposing his agenda using advertisements, policy papers, and lawsuits. The group, whose formation was initially reported by The New York Times, has already raised $1 million from undisclosed donors.
Mamdani’s early focus on 2029 fundraising suggests he is seriously considering the emerging opposition to his democratic socialist agenda. Trip Yang, a seasoned Democratic strategist, acknowledged it’s relatively early to start fundraising for 2029 but agreed it’s a strategic move.
“A strong early fundraising number is important to show the reelection is well-positioned,” Yang commented.
Read more from Chris Sommerfeldt in POLITICO.
STILL LOADING: City Council Speaker Julie Menin expressed confidence today regarding the recently reintroduced protest buffer zone bill around educational facilities, which has garnered support from 35 council members, constituting a veto-proof supermajority.
“I did speak with the mayor about the bill. We had a brief conversation about it,” Menin stated at a press conference. “I think the new bill really addresses some concerns that we had heard.”
Menin explained that the revised measure would still fulfill the original proposal’s objectives but more narrowly define the types of locations included. Universities, which were centers for some of the country’s most intense demonstrations, have been omitted from the new bill.
The original measure was vetoed by Mamdani in April due to concerns about its broad definition of educational facilities and the potential effects on protests related to ICE, fossil fuel divestment, and Palestinian rights.
He allowed a similar bill to pass into law in April while expressing opposition to both buffer-zone bills’ framing of “all protest as a security concern.”
A spokesperson for the mayor said the administration is still “reviewing the new version of the legislation.”  — Gelila Negesse
IN OTHER NEWS
— BAIT AND SWITCH: A year after New York City prohibited broker fees, renters report that the charges have persistently remained. (Gothamist)
— COURT-ORDERED VISITS: New York will require judges to regularly visit prisons following years of unmet oversight obligations. (The City Reporter)
— STRAPPED FOR CASH: The Mamdani administration is contemplating invoking a fiscal exception to postpone required payments to nonprofits, citing financial constraints. (NBC New York)
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