Press Pass Problem

DAYS THE BUDGET IS LATE: 49

YOU GET A PASS, AND YOU GET A PASS, AND YOU GET A PASS…: Mayor Zohran Mamdani acknowledged that the current process for issuing press passes at City Hall is flawed. This comes after three supporters of Luigi Mangione, known as the Mangionistas, were seen celebrating the alleged murder of a health care CEO while proudly displaying their new press passes.

“Those three individuals should not have received press passes,” the mayor stated, referring to the Mangionistas.

The Mangionistas told reporters outside a Manhattan courthouse on Monday that the children of the deceased UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson are “better off without their Dad” and expressed indifference to his death.

They posed for photos with their press passes, which ended up on the cover of The New York Post today, with the tabloid holding City Hall responsible for the situation.

Mamdani is now reconsidering the city’s press pass policy, stating that his administration will evaluate the media credential application process, a role previously managed by the NYPD. This change occurred following protests in 2020 after George Floyd’s murder, which raised concerns about police control over journalists’ access.

This review comes as Mamdani is trying to mend relations with business leaders, following his “Tax the Rich” video filmed outside the residence of Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, which upset Griffin and others.

Griffin criticized Mamdani for using his address for the video, referencing Thompson’s nearby murder, and mentioned his plans to relocate operations to Miami.

Mamdani has since been attempting to smooth relations, praising Griffin and seeking a meeting. He also met with other CEOs, including JPMorgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon, Goldman Sachs’s David Solomon, and Blackstone’s Jonathan Gray.

The Mangionista press pass issue complicates these efforts.

City Hall did not specify when the passes were issued, though The Post claimed they were granted under Mamdani. Victoria Bekiempis of The Guardian revealed records showing numerous press passes linked to the Mangione trial, about half before Mamdani’s tenure.

“There is a good-natured debate to be had about where a press pass should extend and where it shouldn’t. However, the three people that we are talking about don’t fall within that debate,” Mamdani said. “I, as the mayor, should not be deciding who is considered a journalist worthy of a pass and who is not. However, what we should have is a process that people can trust.”

As mayor, Mamdani has been supportive of “new media” influencers, even hosting events exclusively for them. Traditional journalists have complained about the ease of obtaining city press credentials.

Raul Rivera, who allegedly bit a campaign volunteer, retained his press pass post-arrest, attending press events at City Hall. Other independent journalists, like those from “Viral News NYC,” were outraged by the Mangionistas’ credentials.

“I remember when I first got my press pass,” wrote Oren Levy, identified by internet sleuths. “I was proud that I was able to get one. Now it’s just another piece of plastic with no real meaning behind it because every jerk off and their mother has one.” — Jason Beeferman

From the Capitol

ALMOST THERE: Voting on the seven-week late state budget may start next Tuesday.

Assembly Democrats were informed in a closed-door meeting that voting is expected early next week as lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul work to finalize the $268 billion budget.

“Next week is looking more promising,” said Assemblymember Michaelle Solages.

Read more from POLITICO Pro’s Nick Reisman and Bill Mahoney.

NO IMPACT: The agreement between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and five unions to end a three-day Long Island Rail Road strike won’t affect the state budget’s bottom line, said state Senate Transportation Committee Chair Jeremy Cooney.

On Monday, Hochul announced the resolution of the strike affecting the commuter rail service connecting New York City to key suburbs.

MTA CEO Janno Lieber, alongside the governor, stated they reached a deal without causing fare increases or tax hikes.

The unions, working without a contract for three years, will receive retroactive salary increases of 3 percent, 3 percent, and 3.5 percent. The main issue was handling the upcoming fourth year. NY1 reported a 4.5 percent salary increase with a $3,000 lump sum, extending the contract by six weeks. — Nick Reisman and Ry Rivard

FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

BLAKEMAN’S DESANTIS BASH: The New York GOP is hosting a fundraiser featuring Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tonight, in support of their gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman’s bid to unseat Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The annual gala, held by the New York Republican State Committee at The Plaza Hotel, will include remarks from DeSantis as he campaigns for Blakeman and others to sway New York to the GOP side.

The event coincides with the Legislative Correspondents Association’s annual “LCA Show” in Albany, where the press spoofs New York politicians with a musical. Hochul and Blakeman were set to deliver responses, but Blakeman canceled, opting to send a video.

“We regret the conflict with the LCA show, which was unavoidable,” said the state GOP in a press release.

Other GOP candidates, including attorney general candidate Saritha Komatireddy and comptroller hopeful Joseph Hernandez, will also speak.

The gala occurs as another GOP figure, President Donald Trump, plans to visit New York this week for an event with Republican Rep. Mike Lawler.

Despite backing from prominent Republicans, tensions remain between national and local GOP leaders. Trump recently diverged from state GOP Chair Ed Cox with an endorsement in the race to replace Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik. — Jason Beeferman

TERMINAL TURMOIL: The redevelopment of Brooklyn Marine Terminal has become a contentious issue in the primary race between Rep. Dan Goldman and Brad Lander.

The project to revamp the Red Hook terminal, partly led by Goldman, faced delays but was approved by a task force last September after negotiations with Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and City Council Member Shahana Hanif.

At a forum hosted by Abundance New York and NYC New Liberals, Lander expressed the need for more time to refine the plan, despite reportedly lobbying for its approval last year, according to Crain’s. Lander stated he had reservations about the project back then.

Lander highlighted concerns about port operations and transportation logistics.

“With a new administration, with some doubts about it, it is worth a few more months,” Lander said. “I will be a champion to get it done, and you know I will be, because you’ve seen me on every single project, every single hard choice, being on the side of spending some time building consensus, and then moving forward productively.”

Goldman, who appeared after Lander, criticized him for “flip-flopping” on the issue, contrasting it with Lander’s Gowanus rezoning. He emphasized the importance of seeing the project through.

“The concerns that you hear about, ‘Oh we need a few more months, the process,’ that is NIMBYism — that is how things don’t get done,” he said. “We went through an exhaustive process that considered all of these things.”

Goldman joked about Trump not attempting to halt the project, saying, “I think it’s obviously because he’s afraid of me.” — Madison Fernandez

IN OTHER NEWS

— FOLLOW THE BLUE BRICK ROAD?: New York Democrats see a potential opportunity in Rep. Elise Stefanik’s strongly Republican district. (Gothamist)

— ‘HATEFUL ACT’: The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating an incident where a Muslim man was struck with an egg outside a Brooklyn mosque. (New York Daily News)

— LOOK MA, NO HANDS: State Sen. Patricia Fahy has introduced a bill to bring self-driving cars to Albany. (Times Union)

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