FIRST UP: Mayor Zohran Mamdani had initially pledged his support to Rep. Adriano Espaillat, solidifying this agreement with a handshake last summer. However, Mamdani shifted his stance last week by endorsing Espaillat’s primary challenger, democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier, leading to significant repercussions. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, who was an early backer of Mamdani’s anticipated 2025 mayoral campaign, expressed doubt about the mayor’s reliability following this incident, stating she would require written assurances from him in the future. “I will say I want it in writing,” Velázquez remarked.
Read more from POLITICO’s Chris Sommerfeldt and Madison Fernandez here.
MANNY ADDRESSES: Francesca Castellanos, having unsuccessfully run for office in Upper Manhattan eight times, is making her ninth attempt to unseat her local assemblyman, Manny De Los Santos.
Castellanos has invested $8,000 of her personal funds in private investigators to monitor De Los Santos at his wife’s residence in Rockland County and to observe his claimed home in Washington Heights. She has distributed thousands of flyers questioning his residency, which include a photo of his young child.
De Los Santos accuses Castellanos, a Spanish-language interpreter, of harassing him and his family. Castellanos, however, argues that she is applying necessary scrutiny to a public official whom she believes resides outside the district he serves. Election law, she points out, does not impose strict residency requirements for state legislative candidates.
“I understand that public service comes with scrutiny. But this opponent has crossed a line,” De Los Santos stated. “My opponent has spent thousands of dollars on private investigators to follow me and even my children.”
On Monday, Castellanos filed a complaint with Attorney General Letitia James, alleging that her opponent “moved out of Northern Manhattan, moved to the suburbs, cashed his taxpayer paycheck, and continues to hold a political seat he abandoned.”
The complaint highlights that De Los Santos earns an annual salary of $142,000 as an Assemblymember and has chosen suburban life for his children, who attend well-funded Rockland County schools, contrasting with the overcrowded classrooms and limited resources in Northern Manhattan.
James’ office acknowledged receipt of Castellanos’ letter but refrained from commenting on the allegations.
Castellanos’ demand for an investigation into De Los Santos’ residency is her latest move in a long-standing effort to challenge the network of elected officials associated with Rep. Adriano Espaillat. This time, De Los Santos asserts, she has gone too far.
“That is not politics. It is wrong,” De Los Santos declared. “I am an Assemblymember, but I am a father first. My children should not be dragged into a political campaign. This needs to stop.”
The complaint includes images from a video captured by R.Q. Investigations on April 12, showing a man believed to be De Los Santos entering a garage at the Hudson Valley property owned by his wife, Josenia Dominguez. Additional photos taken the next day depict a man, identified again as De Los Santos, performing yard work at the location. A separate investigator hired by Castellanos observed the Washington Heights apartment building but did not see De Los Santos or anyone else enter or exit the unit during two April mornings.
“He’s a public figure, and he’s lying,” Castellanos told Playbook, insisting her scrutiny is appropriate. “If he doesn’t want it, then he shouldn’t run for public office.”
She denied De Los Santos’ allegation that she targeted his children with surveillance, asserting that she only directed investigators to monitor the Assemblymember himself.
Dominguez explained to Playbook that she and De Los Santos are separated but co-parent their children. She confirmed that De Los Santos has resided in his Manhattan apartment since arriving from the Dominican Republic at age 12.
“I hope this clarifies whatever narrative that crazy woman wants to spread,” she added.
Castellanos’ complaint references records indicating that De Los Santos’ Washington Heights apartment was placed under receivership in 2024. Building staff reportedly said they were unaware of his presence there, pointing to a 2014 Daily News article describing claims of voter warehousing at the apartment.
“His relatives live there, but he does not live there,” she asserted.
In 2024, as Castellanos embarked on her second Assembly bid, she and ally Michael Hano gathered evidence to challenge De Los Santos’ residency. Hano had previously mounted a primary challenge against Espaillat.
Hano and Castellanos noted that school records showed De Los Santos’ child attending Rockland County schools and property records listed his wife as owning a home in Clarkstown. They traveled there in May 2024 and observed Dominguez and the children from a distance. Hano claims he passed by the house later that month and saw De Los Santos through a window.
“I just drove past to see if a car was in the driveway, and there he was in the window,” Hano recounted. “It’s not like I was sitting there, scoping the place out. I was coming home from karaoke that night. These people, when they take public office, they’re giving up a little bit of privacy.”
That year, Castellanos distributed about 4,000 flyers in Spanish, proclaiming De Los Santos “resides in the suburbs.” The flyer included an Instagram photo of one of his children and the address of his wife’s Rockland County home. Hano said he advised Castellanos against this action and temporarily ceased communication with her.
By 2026, Castellanos was again challenging De Los Santos for his seat after losing a City Council race to Carmen De La Rosa. In April, she filed a lawsuit to remove De Los Santos from the ballot, arguing he did not reside in the district, but the case was dismissed due to procedural issues. De Los Santos also attempted, unsuccessfully, to disqualify Castellanos from the ballot, but she self-represented and prevailed.
Castellanos is now producing more flyers, printing up to 10,000. She claims a city health inspector visited her apartment, which she shares with six cats, in response to an odor complaint she suspects De Los Santos initiated. De Los Santos denied any involvement.
State law requires legislative candidates to reside in their district for 12 months before an election. However, a 2016 Court of Appeals ruling allows candidates to claim residency where they have significant ties, barring fraud or deception.
De Los Santos insists his Assembly district “has been my home for decades” and continues to be so. “I am a proud resident of District 72,” he stated. “I continue to live in and represent the community that raised me and that I have spent my life serving.”
From the Capitol
GO NEW YORK: The Uber-funded group supporting Gov. Kathy Hochul’s car insurance reform efforts is releasing a final TV ad today themed around the Knicks.
The ad features enthusiastic Knicks fans celebrating the team’s success to the tune of the “Hallelujah” chorus.
“Every once in a while New Yorkers stand united, celebrating as one, overcome with joy and reveling in an unexpected and remarkable achievement: Yeah, Governor Hochul’s lowered New York’s sky-high car insurance,” the ad’s narrator declares.
The claim is exaggerated: the governor has acknowledged that New Yorkers won’t see an immediate reduction in premiums.
Timed with the NBA Finals, this basketball-themed spot concludes the campaign’s advertising blitz, which began with a Buffalo Bills-themed ad at the year’s start. — Nick Reisman
HELPING NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS: The State University of New York is launching initiatives to enhance support for adult learners and students with children.
The university plans to collaborate with community colleges to expand evening and weekend course offerings. The state budget includes an additional $12 million for community colleges.
SUNY is also creating a grant program to improve resources for student parents, including child-friendly lounges and study areas.
“Because one in five college students across the country are parents, we’re boosting support for student-parents,” SUNY Chancellor John King stated during his “State of the University” address in Albany.
The state has been taking further steps to support college students with children.
Earlier this year, Hochul extended childcare hours on community college campuses to accommodate students in high-demand programs. SUNY has also utilized $10.4 million in state funding to open additional childcare centers and increase available spots.
The state introduced a program this school year offering free tuition to older students pursuing associate degrees in high-demand fields at SUNY and the City University of New York. — Madina Touré
FROM CITY HALL
HIGH HOPES: Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed a confident prediction for the NBA Finals this morning.
“Knicks in four — inshallah,” Mamdani joked on Hot 97 radio.
In their first finals appearance since 1999, the Knicks face the San Antonio Spurs tonight in Texas. The Knicks have won 11 consecutive games in this year’s playoffs, but a sweep as predicted by the mayor would be a significant challenge.
Mamdani’s office did not confirm if the mayor will attend any of the Knicks’ games at Madison Square Garden, with the first home game scheduled for Monday night.
“I’m going to be at a lot of different watch parties tonight — I can’t wait,” Mamdani mentioned to Playbook at City Hall when asked about his plans to attend the watch party inside MSG tonight for Game 1.
Mamdani spokesperson Sam Raskin did not provide additional details on the mayor’s schedule but highlighted the mayor’s role in securing a permit for a separate watch party outside the Garden tonight. The NYPD had previously indicated no more such events would be allowed following a chaotic incident during the Eastern Conference Finals.
“As a Knicks fan and a New Yorker, the mayor feels the energy and excitement this team has brought to the city,” Raskin said. “This is a special moment for all five boroughs, and we’re thrilled these celebrations are moving forward. Let’s go Knicks.”
Politics have already influenced the finals. On Sunday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott posted an AI-generated image on X of himself dunking over a Knicks jersey-wearing Hochul, with President Donald Trump sitting courtside laughing.
President Trump, who is unpopular in his native New York, indicated last week that he might attend one of the Knicks’ home games after an invitation from team owner James Dolan. — Chris Sommerfeldt
IN OTHER NEWS
— LONE STAR BACKING: A pro-Palestinian Texas businessman has invested heavily in American Priorities, an anti-Israel super PAC supporting congressional campaigns by Brad Lander, Darializa Avila Chevalier, and Claire Valdez. (New York Post)
— SOUND THE ALARMS: The Bronx has seen a more than twofold increase in major fires, attributed to aging electrical infrastructure in older buildings. (Gothamist)
— ALL ABOARD: Mamdani has appointed Janette Sadik-Khan, a former Transportation Commissioner, and Melanie Hartzog, a former budget chief, to represent New York City on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board. (New York Daily News)
Missed this morning’s New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
