New York wants ICE raid videos after Canal Street chaos

And after three decades, a senior Assembly member has decided not to seek reelection.

Good afternoon — It’s Wednesday and Lung Health Day.

In today’s CapCon:

• New York has created a portal for residents to upload videos of ICE raids after chaos erupted on Canal Street.

• After more than three decades in office, a longtime member of the state Assembly from Manhattan is retiring.

• The Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government could pursue a bill that would raise its fees in favor of revenue.

• We continue to cover the race for state comptroller with an introduction to Raj Goyle, a Democrat in the race.

• Two new bills would attempt to insulate New Yorkers from the massive energy demand anticipated from data centers.

Names in today’s CapCon: Zohran Mamdani, Letitia James, Sanford Berland, Carl E. Heastie, Michaelle Solages, Deborah Glick, Leroy Comrie, Raj Goyle

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A photo from Tuesday’s raid on Canal Street (Jake Offenhrrtz/Associated Press)

📸 New York is asking for photos and videos of ICE officers after Manhattan raid

You may have already seen videos of an apparent raid carried out by federal immigration officers on Canal Street in Chinatown Tuesday.

At least nine people were arrested by the agents as part of the raid, which met swift opposition from bystanders and immigrant advocates. Democrats were incensed by the incident.

It prompted strong criticism online from lawmakers and candidates for public office. That included Zohran Mamdani, the Democrat leading in the race for New York City mayor, who called the raid “authoritarian theatrics.”

That criticism was loud enough for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to respond on social media, saying the nine immigrants arrested had previously been accused of violent crimes. That wasn’t true for most of them, according to the agency’s own descriptions.

“Under President Trump and (Secretary Kristi Noem, criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the U.S.,” the post said.

New York Attorney General Letitia James punched back Wednesday afternoon with a warning for the agency and a request to New Yorkers.

“If you witnessed and documented ICE activity yesterday, I urge you to share that footage with my office,” James said. “We are committed to reviewing these reports and assessing any violations of law. No one should be subject to unlawful questioning, detention, or intimidation.”

Her office has launched a new online portal where users can upload photos and videos of yesterday’s raid and any others. Those submissions can be made anonymously.

James wants that material, presumably, for some kind of legal action but we don’t know what that would look like or if New York would lead that charge.

COELIG Executive Director Sanford Berland (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)

💰 COELIG could pursue proposal to retain fee revenue amid budget crunch

State agencies are trying to figure out how to build their budgets for the next fiscal year without an increase in funding.

Hochul has already informed agencies that they shouldn’t expect more funding in next year’s state budget. The state is anticipating less funding from the federal government as a result of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” approved in July.

Before agencies were told as much, the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government was considering a budget request that would boost its appropriations by nearly 7%.

With that off the table, the agency is now trying to figure out how to work with what it’s got. Sanford Berland, the executive director, soft pitched one idea in a meeting of the commission Wednesday.