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Keep up with the latest in New York City politics and what’s happening in Albany on Friday as Trump’s border czar Tom Homan will meet with Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The meeting comes a day after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was fired from her position.

Gov. Hochul has also vowed to make New York more attractive to businesses by promising not to raise taxes — as NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani continued his pressure campaign for a slate of new taxes.

Follow The Post’s live updates for the latest politics news in New York City, state legislation in Albany and more:

Mamdani claims wife Rama Duwaji isn’t a public figure — despite glossy magazine profiles — after uproar over Oct. 7 post ‘likes’

By David Propper

Mayor Zohran Mamdani claimed his wife Rama Duwaji isn’t a public figure – despite receiving fawning media coverage – after facing uproar Friday for liking social media posts celebrating Hamas after its Oct. 7, 2023 attack.

The democratic socialist, 34, was confronted during an unrelated event about his 28-year-old artist spouse liking Instagram posts that shared brutal imagery of the terror group’s murderous rampage and trumpeted anti-Israel rhetoric.

Zohran Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji, at a polling station after casting their ballots.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani claimed his wife Rama Duwaji isn’t a public figure. James Keivom

“My wife is the love of my life, and she’s also a private person who has held no formal position on my campaign or in my City Hall,” Mamdani said.

“I, however, was elected to represent all 8.5 million people in the city. And I believe that it’s my responsibility because of that role to answer questions about my thoughts and my politics, and my stances.”

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Reopening Indian Point nuclear plant will fix NY’s surging energy costs, Lawler and Trump energy secretary tell Hochul

By Khristina Narizhnaya and Matt Troutman

It’s the nuclear option.

Republican Rep. Mike Lawler and US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright dramatically called on Gov. Kathy Hochul to reopen the Indian Point nuclear plant Friday — a move they argued would reverse New Yorkers’ skyrocketing energy bills.

US Rep Michael Lawler, secretary of energy Chris Wright, and Chief Executive Officer, Holtec International Chair of the Advisory Board, Holtec Internationa Kris Singh all speak at a press conference at Indian point nuclear facility in New York where they proposed to rebuild the facility instead of tearing it down and building new facilities, upstate.
Rep. Mike Lawler and energy Secretary Chris Wright on Friday called to reopen the Indian Point nuclear plant. Lone Pine Press for NY Post

The power pair used the shuttered plant sitting on the Hudson River as a backdrop for their argument that a “nuclear renaissance” could help ease a burgeoning energy crisis in the Empire State caused by an ill-thought-out turn toward green policies.

“I’m calling for Indian Point to be rebuilt and reopened,” Lawler (R-Hudson Valley) said.

“Hudson Valley families are being suffocated with rising energy costs, because of Governor Hochul’s failed and disastrous energy policies. It is time to reverse course.”

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City promotes new ‘official NYC garbage bin’ delivery from Doordash, UberEats, Instacart

By Haley Brown

Trash for delivery.

The Big Apple’s newfangled “official” garbage cans can be delivered through DoorDash, Instacart or Uber Eats, sanitation officials announced Wednesday — despite Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration taking aim at such apps.

trash bin
These are the trash bins certain homeowners will be required to use starting in June. Gabriella Bass

The announcement comes as Department of Sanitation officials scramble to clean up the messy debut of the program, launched under Mamdani’s predecessor Eric Adams, which requires one- to nine-unit residential buildings to use standardized, lidded “NYC Bins” by June 2026.

The agency’s website proudly boasted that online ordering with home delivery was available for all New Yorkers seeking all types of the official bin through the popular trio of delivery apps.

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Mamdani announces additional changes to scaffolding reform passed under Mayor Adams

By Matthew Fischetti

Mayor Zohran Mamdani trotted out a series of proposed reforms Friday aimed at reducing scaffolding in New York City, expanding on changes made under his predecessor Eric Adams.

The Department of Buildings is proposing a new rule that would penalize building owners for sheds that remain standing for more than 180 days, City Hall said.

Those not in compliance would have to provide updates to façade repairs every 90 days under the new rules, which would go into effect in August.

Legislation signed by Adams last March expanded the DOB's power to remove the perennial eyesores, including taking aim at scaffolding only extending 40 feet away from buildings.

Permits for sidewalk sheds were also reduced to three months from one year, under one of the bills passed during the previous mayoral admin.

"The first thing is that we're utilizing every single tool at our disposal," Mamdani said in response to a question about how his policy differed from his predecessor's.

"And what that means is not only embracing the legislation that was passed but also aggressively pursuing the rule reform and the regulatory reforms that we can take," he said.

Jack Schlossberg launches petition against prominent NYCHA complex demolition in latest campaign video

By Hannah Fierick

NY-12 candidate Jack Schlossberg launched a petition Friday to "make public housing safer, cleaner and stronger" in his latest campaign video.

The democratic primary candidate, who is the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, also officially called on his supporters to "say no" to the demolition of the largest NYCHA complex in the district he's seeking to lead.

"We need to stop the demolition and get the private money outta here," Schlossberg says in the video posted to X.

Fulton-Elliot Chelsea houses--an over 2,000 unit NYCHA complex--is slated to be demolished as part of a public-private housing re-vamp funded by the city and Related Properties. Current tenants are guaranteed new apartments in the complex once construction is completed.

The city previously noted that only 4% of tenants will need to be relocated during construction, but some residents and locals are outraged that those being moved are residents of a senior building.

"They said if you do not move, you have no house!" one elderly woman exclaims in the video.

"SAY NO TO THE DEMOLITION - The Elliot Chelsea + Fulton Houses are in my neighborhood — repairs, not the wrecking ball !!," Schlossberg wrote in the post to X.

NY ramps up pot production to snuff out potential massive weed shortage

By Carl Campanile

It’s high time for New York to grow its green market.

State cannabis regulators are moving to ramp up weed production — after warning that New York could face a massive shortage of marijuana in light of the booming retail cannabis market.

Cannabis flower in clear display cases on a wooden shelf in a licensed cannabis shop.
State cannabis regulators are moving to ramp up weed production — after warning that New York could face a massive shortage of marijuana in light of the booming retail cannabis market. Helayne Seidman for NY Post

An analysis released Thursday by the Office of Cannabis Management claims that, without action, the shortage of flowered marijuana could reach 365,000 pounds over the next year.

Citing the gap between supply and demand, OCM Acting Executive Director John Kagia said the state could issue licenses for 100 additional pot growers this year — while allowing dozens of existing cultivators to grow more flower.

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NYC first lady Rama Duwaji liked posts showing celebratory photos of Oct. 7 attack, calling for Palestinian ‘resistance’: report

By Hannah Fierick , Matthew Fischetti and David Propper

Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s wife Rama Duwaji liked Instagram posts throwing support behind Palestinian “resistance” in the immediate aftermath of Hamas’ murderous Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel, according to a report Friday.

Rama Duwaji at the Diotima fashion show.
Rama Duwaji liked Instagram posts supporting Palestinian resistance after Oct. 7, 2023. WWD via Getty Images

The inflammatory posts from lefty groups included one published on the day of the day of the sickening assault that showed livestreamed footage of attackers riding on a commandeered Israel Defense Forces vehicle with a caption about “resisting apartheid,” Jewish Insider reported.

The report said Duwaji, 28, also liked a post on Oct. 7, 2023 from the left-wing organization People’s Forum that advertised a protest against Israel as the Jewish state launched its retaliatory military campaign in Gaza.

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Hochul says she warned Homan in closed-door meeting not to expand ICE detention facilities in NY

By Matt Troutman

ALBANY – Gov. Kathy Hochul said she warned President Trump’s border czar Tom Homan that she doesn't want ICE to expand its presence in the Empire State during a high-stakes sit-down Friday.

“We do not want to see any large-scale detention centers or expansion of detention centers here in New York,” Hochul told reporters after, declining to reveal details on Homan’s side of the conversation.

The Democratic governor said she and Homan also spoke specifically about how federal immigration agents pick up detainees at New York jails.

"Just a conversation about what happens after people have served their time in our prisons," she said.

The pair’s closed-door powwow followed Homan’s meetings with Republican state Assembly members, as well as GOP gubernatorial candidate and Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman, on Thursday, sources said.

The czar’s meeting with Hochul arguably could be the most consequential as the governor seeks to wage war on Trump’s immigration agenda. 

Hochul, who is up for re-election in November, vowed to restrict ICE activity in New York after immigration agents killed two US citizens in Minneapolis earlier this year.

The governor maintained she wants to prohibit local facilities, such as those in Nassau County, from agreeing to hold inmates for immigration authorities. But Hochul said she did not specifically address that legislative proposal with Homan during their face-to-face.

State Operations Director Jacki Bray, a top aide to the governor who was in on the meeting, said that Hochul is still pushing to keep ICE from signing local agreements despite receiving reassurances, including directly from President Trump several weeks ago.

Hochul said she also demanded recourse for federal agents leaving a blind migrant on the streets of Buffalo to die last month.

The governor, who met with the man's wife this past week, said she demanded Homan get the feds to provide visas for family members of the refugee still living in Myanmar.

Homan’s meet with Republican lawmakers Thursday revolved around technicalities in agreements, such as Nassau County’s, with ICE.

He also assured the GOP pols that federal immigration agents wouldn’t be repeating some of the “issues” that occurred in Minnesota in January, according to a source in the room.

Under pressure from lefty lawmakers ahead state budget talks, Hochul has promised to pass legislation to enshrine statewide sanctuary policies after the controversial deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. 

She also pushed a proposal to end existing agreements between local and federal law enforcements – a direct shot at Blakeman’s deal in Nassau County, in which ICE can use jail cells and local detectives directly cooperate with immigration officials.

ICE agents’ detainer requests – essentially, a heads up that an immigrant will be released from jail – in the Big Apple more than doubled last year after Trump took office, the Queens Daily Eagle reported.

But officials in New York City – a sanctuary jurisdiction where the law limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities, except in violent or serious crimes – only honored a relative handful, according to the report.

A native of New York’s north country, Homan drew fury from Democratic lawmakers when he met with and spoke alongside Republicans in the state capitol last year.

“New York State, you’ve got to change your sanctuary status and if you don’t, get out of the way. We’re going to do our job,” Homan said during last year’s appearance at the capitol.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani, then a state assemblyman polling at just 8% in the Democratic mayoral primary race, used the opportunity to scream at Homan.

"How many more New Yorkers will you detain? How many more New Yorkers without charges? Do you believe in the First Amendment, Tom Homan?,” Mamdani shouted as he was blocked by state troopers during the confrontation with the border czar in a capitol hallway.

Hochul did not meet with Homan last year. She was out of town attending the funeral of former NAACP President Hazel Dukes.

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Bruce Blakeman meets with U.S. Border Czar Tom Homan, ahead of Hochul visit

By Vaughn Golden

ALBANY – Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman met with Tom Homan Thursday evening ahead of President Trump's border czar sitting down with Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, The Post has learned.

Blakeman, who had spent Thursday campaigning in the Southern Tier and Central New York, discussed Nassau County’s agreement with ICE, one of the most comprehensive in the state, a source familiar with the conversation said.

Homan expressed support for Blakeman’s ICE agreement, which the Long Island pol claims has led to the arrests there of over 2,000 people in the US illegally.

Tom Homan met with Bruce Blakeman on Thursday, March 5, 2026. Obtained by NY Post

The source said Blakeman, a Trump ally, also discussed his desire to set up a guest worker program with Homan in the roughly 30 minute convo at an Albany restaurant.

Zohran Mamdani ditches campaign pledge on NYC intersections in latest flip-flop

By Matthew Fischetti

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has abandoned his campaign promise of “universal daylighting” at intersections, a move that has angered transit advocates. The policy aimed to ban parking near crosswalks, but the city will now assess intersections individually due to potential loss of 300,000 parking spots and a $3 billion cost. This is the latest reversal from Mamdani.

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Gov. Kathy Hochul to meet with U.S. Border Czar Tom Homan

By Kathleen Joyce

ALBANY – President Trump’s Border Czar, Tom Homan, is meeting with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in Albany Friday.

Sources familiar confirmed Thursday that Hochul would meet with Homan, a native of Jefferson County in New York’s North Country, while he was in Albany on Friday.

Homan met with Republican members of the Assembly Thursday afternoon, a spokesperson for the conference confirmed to The Post.

The meeting comes as Gov. Kathy Hochul has vowed to pass legislation to restrict ICE activity in New York following the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis earlier this year.

“New York State, you’ve got to change your sanctuary status and if you don’t, get out of the way. We’re going to do our job,” Homan said during last year’s appearance at the capitol.

Gov. Kathy Hochul will meet with border czar Tom Homan Friday, March 6, 2026. Hans Pennink

Hochul vows to make NY more business-friendly by not raising taxes: 'That's how we expand the tax base'

By Craig McCarthy

Gov. Kathy Hochul vowed to make New York more attractive to businesses by promising not to raise taxes — as her comrade in the Big Apple continued his pressure campaign for a slate of new taxes.

Hochul, speaking at the Citizens Budget Commission's annual gala Thursday evening, pledged that she would responsibly manage the state's funds by investing in the economy and squirreling away cash for its reserves while not adding any new fees to its residents or businesses.

"I'm going to continue to maintain our current revenues and manage them in a smart way without having to raise taxes that I know will drive people out of the state," Hochul said at the function, adding, "Because I happen to want people to be here."

"I want to expand the pie," she continued. "If we can create a more pro-business environment, more businesses will come here. That's how we expand the tax base.”

The strong stance comes as Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his lefty brethren push for an increase in personal income taxes and the corporate tax rate in the Big Apple.

Mamdani seemingly has support from some in Albany, but without Hochul on board, the issue is likely dead in the water.

The young mayor followed the governor at the CBC event, doubling down on his purported $5.4 billion budget gap and his calls for more taxes.

"I am maintaining my belief that those with the most can do more to help those who have the least," Mamdani said after playing down the disconnect between him and the governor as a healthy disagreement.

Earlier this week, Mamdani presented his tax increase plan to Albany lawmakers ahead of their budget proposals. City Hall called for a corporate 1.9 point corporate tax hike, which was less than he campaigned on and a 2% tax increase on people making $1 million or more, among others.

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