'Can't stop Cuomo,' Hochul says; CDPAP lawsuit filed

And social media misinformation is the theme of this week's On The Bill.

Good afternoon — it’s Wednesday and National Cheeseburger Day.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

TODAY’S CAPCON:

• Hochul spoke candidly about her predecessor in a new interview in which she also agreed with a popular rumor in state politics.

• The Hochul administration was sued Wednesday over the state’s scheduled change to CDPAP, a Medicaid program.

• The Grieving Families Act is facing opposition from a coalition that wants Hochul to veto it for a third time.

• On The Bill: how social media companies address misinformation and other inappropriate content.

• New Bills of Note: renewable energy siting, antisemitism sanctions and suppressed evidence lawsuits.

🍂 Tonight’s Weather: Albany: Mostly cloudy, low 60s. New York City: Rain likely, high 60s. (National Weather Service)

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Cuomo last week (Cliff Owen/Associated Press)

🏃 ‘Can’t stop Cuomo’ from running for New York City mayor, Hochul says

🗣️ Hochul said more than she usually does about her predecessor and politics in New York in an interview with Cindy Adams.

The next election for governor in New York is more than two years out and I’m already exhausted.

But Gov. Kathy HOCHUL is not. She’s already thinking about her bid for reelection and who might challenge her for the state’s top job.

Rumors have swirled in the Albany bubble that former Gov. Andrew M. CUOMO might want it back but Hochul told Cindy Adams from the New York Post otherwise.

“Funny, when I arrived, originally Cuomo was still in this mansion. Right here. Hadn’t moved out. Be historic if he returned and had to move me out so he could move back in — and even with his same crew of people — but won’t happen,” Hochul said.

That’s pretty much what I’ve heard over the past few months from folks involved in state politics as well — that Cuomo isn’t aiming for Albany if he makes a comeback.

But Hochul’s crystal ball shows what those same folks have predicted as well: that if Cuomo wants to return to public office, his sights are set on Gracie Mansion.

“Cuomo’s going for mayor. Can’t stop Cuomo from going for mayor. And no matter what anyone says about our current mayor he has done some good things,” Hochul told (Cindy) Adams.

• Adams also asked Hochul if she would move back to Buffalo if she loses reelection in 2026.

• “No, I want to enjoy New York City,” Hochul said. Sorry Buffalo. ☹️

The other ADAMS — of the Eric variety — is seen as politically vulnerable at the moment because of the multiple federal investigations into his administration and 2021 campaign.

• It didn’t help that two former high-ranking New York City Fire Department officials were indicted in a bribery scheme this week.

• That behavior started before Adams but carried on after he took office. It was his team that reported it to prosecutors, he said.

(Peter K. Afriyie/Associated Press)

But — and, objectively, I mean no offense — a potential run from Cuomo could set a low bar for Adams to hurdle, depending on how those investigations shake out.