IT’S ZO TIME: Celebrating his 100th day in office, Mayor Zohran Mamdani traveled across the city, embracing a milestone that once seemed unattainable.
The mayor’s day began in Queens at a graduation ceremony for Department of Correction recruits. He then visited the Bronx to join a trash cleanup event featuring a youth cheerleading squad and a garbage-can mascot, before heading to Harlem for home lead inspections.
However, Day 100 also brought challenges. POLITICO reported a potential scandal involving Mamdani’s Department of Probation commissioner, who allegedly had a past romantic relationship with the agency’s general counsel. The chief investigator who revealed this to the city’s watchdog claims she was fired for her whistleblowing, according to court documents.
“I take any allegations of misconduct incredibly seriously,” Mamdani stated this morning, with cheerleaders in the background. “New Yorkers should rest assured that there is an investigation.”
In April 2025, New Yorkers were unsure whether they were voting for Zellnor or Zohran Mamdani. “A woman approached me at a forum, excited to vote for me, but she referred to me as Zellnor Mamdani,” Mamdani recounted to Playbook last year. (The other “ZM” is state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, a previous mayoral candidate.)
Currently at City Hall, Mamdani is celebrating the 100-day mark. He engaged in a media tour, giving interviews to The New York Times, POLITICO, City & State, THE CITY, and even a 20-minute interview with Al Jazeera to reflect on the milestone.
“The first feeling is that of gratitude that I get to have 100 days as mayor,” Mamdani shared. “This is truly the dream of a lifetime, to have this position and to be trusted by New Yorkers to deliver on it.”
The 100-day milestone, emphasized by Mamdani’s team with a flippable day-counter at press conferences, has prompted some critical assessments.
The New York Post, which did not receive an interview, highlighted a list of unfulfilled promises from Mamdani’s campaign. The tabloid even sought comments from President Donald Trump, who advised, “Gotta lower taxes or everyone’s leaving. It’s very simple.”
The New York Times provided a detailed analysis of Mamdani’s campaign pledges: free buses (stalled); rent freeze (TBD); free child care (progressing); Department of Community Safety (rebranded as Office of Community Safety); city-owned grocery stores (yet to start); taxing the wealthy (stalled); expanded rental assistance (reversed). Additionally, relinquishing control of city schools was abandoned.
Nevertheless, Mamdani believes there is ample time to achieve his primary goals of rent freezes, free buses, and free childcare, potentially extending to 2034. Asked if he plans to achieve these in one or two terms, he responded, “Inshallah, it’s two terms.” —Jason Beeferman
From the Capitol
LETTER TO CMS: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services acknowledged Friday that errors were found in its analysis of fraud within New York’s Medicaid program, according to the Associated Press.
This acknowledgment was in response to a 78-page letter from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration, criticizing the federal agency’s miscalculation of state Medicaid data.
State officials rejected claims by CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, asserting that the state’s $124 billion Medicaid program is plagued with fraud, waste, and abuse. The state Department of Health, in a statement to Playbook, accused the federal government of misinterpreting rising Medicaid costs as evidence of misconduct.
This dispute highlights ongoing tensions over the federal government’s oversight of state Medicaid programs amid escalating costs. CMS has identified areas like personal care, behavioral health, and transportation as particularly vulnerable to fraud, but its miscalculation in New York undermines the Trump administration’s fraud-busting efforts.
“CMS wildly overstates utilization in areas like personal care. CMS also appears to conflate critical investments with fraud, misconstruing New York’s historic commitment to expanding access to behavioral health,” stated Cadence Acquaviva, spokesperson for the state Health Department.
READ MORE from POLITICO Pro’s Katelyn Cordero here.
100-FOOT RULE REPEAL: Hochul is enacting a chapter amendment today to postpone the repeal of the 100-foot rule for a year.
New York has long required ratepayers to subsidize gas hookups for new residential buildings. If new structures were within 100 feet of a gas main line, utilities would connect them and pass the cost onto other consumers.
In 2021, extending gas service to new residential customers cost ratepayers approximately $500 million, according to an analysis by the Public Utility Law Project of New York.
“I have made affordability a top priority, and eliminating this 40-year-old subsidy that has outlived its purpose will help with that,” Hochul said when she signed the legislation in December.
Repealing the 100-foot rule was a priority for environmental advocates last session. Initially included in the NY HEAT Act, the bill aimed to transition the state away from gas infrastructure. While the bill did not become law, advocates separated the 100-foot rule provision as a standalone bill that gained enough support to pass. — Mona Zhang
FROM CITY HALL
MORE DOIMAGE CONTROL: Mamdani is working to secure support for a critical appointment that depends on the New York City Council, adding to the growing tensions between the mayor and the lawmakers who are meant to serve as a check on his power, according to POLITICO Pro.
Behind the scenes, Mamdani’s team has been arranging one-on-one meetings between Council members and his nominee for the Department of Investigation, Nadia Shihata, according to sources with knowledge of the outreach.
The intention of these meetings is to alleviate lawmakers’ concerns about her past political support for Mamdani and her longstanding social ties with his top legal adviser.
The administration’s efforts, which come just days before the Council’s vote on the nomination, indicate to at least one Council member that the mayor and his staff are concerned about Shihata’s confirmation for the DOI commissioner post.
“Otherwise they don’t call,” stated Council member Gale Brewer, who was among at least four lawmakers who received offers to meet with Shihata.
The sudden hurdle for Shihata’s nomination adds to Mamdani’s challenges, amid a broader budget conflict with Council Speaker Julie Menin, as the mayor faces a $5.4 billion funding gap with limited options to close it.
These revelations about Shihata’s confirmation battle coincide with POLITICO’s report on the DOI probe into Mamdani’s Department of Probation commissioner, overshadowing what the mayor had hoped would be a celebratory weekend marking his 100th day in office.
Read the story from Chris Sommerfeldt and Joe Anuta in POLITICO Pro.
FROM THE BALKANS
THE ADAMS OF ALBANIA: Eric Adams has become a citizen of Albania.
His spokesperson, Todd Shapiro, confirmed that the former mayor had received “honorary Albanian citizenship” and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Edi Rama for the honor.
“The decision by the Republic of Albania to grant Mayor Adams citizenship reflects that enduring relationship and mutual respect,” Shapiro stated. “Leaders around the world — including mayors and presidents — have historically been recognized with honorary or dual citizenships as a symbol of international partnership and shared values.”
Adams faced foreign bribery charges during his tenure as mayor, which he denies, but the charges were dropped after intervention by Trump’s Department of Justice.
In an interview with Fox News, Adams reflected on his new life, stating there’s “a great world out there waiting for me.”
“Because of my time as mayor, I spent a lot of time inviting foreign dignitaries to the city,” he remarked. “Now all of that has turned into some good communications and relationships.” — Jason Beeferman
FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME: Rev. Al Sharpton is considering endorsing Jack Schlossberg in the competitive Democratic primary for NY-12.
Schlossberg and Sharpton met for breakfast last week, discussing the Kennedy family, politics, and faith, though not an endorsement, as reported by Page Six.
“I told him that what Trump is doing is trying to overturn everything his grandfather, President John Kennedy started in the early 1960s,” Sharpton wrote on social media. “It’s in Jack’s blood to fight this backlash.”
Playbook caught up with Sharpton during the second day of his National Action Network conference, where he reiterated that Schlossberg did not request an endorsement, and their meeting was simply to become acquainted.
When asked about endorsing Schlossberg, Sharpton stated it was still a possibility.
“I like guys that show up,” said Sharpton. “None of his opponents have.”
Schlossberg spoke at the conference Wednesday, introduced by Sharpton as a “new friend.”
“You are doing so much more than anyone that I know to advance the cause of civil rights,” Schlossberg said. “You’ve been doing it my whole lifetime. You did it a whole lifetime before I was born, and you’re still doing it. It just gives us all — young people especially — someone to look up to, an example to learn from.”
A Sharpton endorsement could significantly boost Schlossberg, who already has backing from former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, lending further credibility to his campaign. Some have criticized his lack of political experience compared to opponents like state Assemblymembers Micah Lasher and Alex Bores. However, sparse polling indicates Schlossberg is leading. — Madison Fernandez
IN OTHER NEWS
— LANDER SAYS NO TO ISRAELI AID: Congressional candidate Brad Lander now opposes all aid to Israel, including its missile defense system, in his campaign for NY-10. (The Forward)
— GREEN COSTS BITE: Business leaders in New York City are urging the state to reconsider parts of its climate law, citing unsustainable compliance costs. (CBS News)
— ICE COLD: A landlord in Poughkeepsie is facing charges after threatening tenants with immigration enforcement. (Times Union)
— REP. ENGEL PASSES: Eliot Engel, who represented parts of the Bronx and Westchester in Congress for over three decades, has died at 79. (LoHud)
Missed this morning’s New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
