Annie McDonough

New York

Deputy City Hall Reporter at City & State NY

Reporter @CityAndStateNY • Write me/send tips at amcdonough (at) cityandstateny (dot com) • DM for Signal • She/her • https://t.co/zsje5wRnyk

Articles

5 things to watch on election night in NYC

5 days ago | cityandstateny.com | Holly Pretsky |Sahalie Donaldson |Annie McDonough

The leading candidates for mayor – and some of the trailing candidates, too – fanned out across the city this weekend in a final blitz ahead of the June 24 primary and the end of early voting. It was a sweltering weekend, peppered with several frenzied storms – an early preview for the actual day of the election which is expected to be even hotter. Both ex-Gov.
NYC BOE and campaigns prep for scorcher Election Day

1 week ago | cityandstateny.com | Annie McDonough |Holly Pretsky

Temperatures are expected to reach 100 degrees on primary election day as an oppressive “heat dome” passes over parts of the central and eastern U.S., combining dangerously high temperatures with smothering humidity. The weather forecast is likely to impact Election Day voter turnout, and it’s just the latest twist in a primary election season absolutely packed with them.
Cuomo promises to fix the city - and the Democratic Party

1 week ago | cityandstateny.com | Annie McDonough

Andrew Cuomo is running for mayor of New York City, but at a campaign rally with labor unions on Monday, he also suggested he has an answer – or at least a diagnosis – for the ills of the Democratic Party that extend far beyond the five boroughs.
The newspapers don’t want New Yorkers to put Zohran Mamdani on their ballots

1 week ago | cityandstateny.com | Sahalie Donaldson |Annie McDonough

The New York Times editorial board couldn’t keep quiet after all. On Monday morning – nearly a year after announcing it would no longer endorse in municipal elections – the 16-member editorial board released a piece advising New Yorkers to not vote for Zohran Mamdani for mayor. And acknowledging that the Democratic primary seems to have narrowed to a two-man contest between the young Assembly member and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the board reluctantly favored the latter.
City Council narrowly bets on Bally’s home rule message, going against local member

2 weeks ago | cityandstateny.com | Annie McDonough

The bid for a casino in the Bronx will live to fight another day. The New York City Council narrowly granted a local approval needed for the state Legislature to allow a casino to be built on parkland at Ferry Point in the Bronx, where the Bally’s Corp. is vying for a license. But to do it, the City Council voted against the local member in the district, Council Member Kristy Marmorato, who sharply criticized the efforts of Bally’s in the process.
Bronx casino vote in City Council still in flux

2 weeks ago | cityandstateny.com | Annie McDonough |Sophie Krichevsky

The fate of a crucial vote for a casino proposal in the Bronx is still in flux on the eve of the City Council’s last chance to pass a “home rule” message that would allow the proposal to advance. As of late Tuesday afternoon, the agenda for Wednesday’s Government Operations Committee meeting had still yet to be announced.
Tech companies are spending big on 2025 NYC races

2 weeks ago | cityandstateny.com | Annie McDonough

Ten years ago, ride-hailing giant Uber fought an unwanted regulation from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration with a special in-app feature. A pop-up titled “de Blasio’s Uber” showed no cars available or 25 minute wait times, prompting users to email City Hall and the City Council to fight the legislation. This year, the company is taking a more traditional – and slightly less hostile – approach to influencing local politics.
DC 37 launches new PAC to boost mayoral candidate Adrienne Adams

2 weeks ago | cityandstateny.com | Annie McDonough

District Council 37’s No. 1 ranked endorsement of Adrienne Adams is coming with some cash. The public sector union launched a new independent expenditure committee last week in support of the City Council speaker’s bid for New York City mayor. And they’re working with some of the architects behind Mayor Eric Adams’ 2021 campaign to do it.
New York City Council 2025 primary races to watch

2 weeks ago | cityandstateny.com | Annie McDonough |Holly Pretsky |Sahalie Donaldson

District 1: Lower Manhattan, including the Financial District, Chinatown, City Hall and SoHo Incumbent: Chris Marte (Democrat, Working Families Party)Challengers: Jess Coleman (Democrat), Elizabeth Lewinsohn (Democrat), Eric Yu (Democrat)District demographics: 45% white, 32% Asian, 13% Hispanic, 5% Black, 1% other/multiple racesVoter enrollment: 66% Democratic, 23% unaffiliated, 9% RepublicanWhat’s the deal?
Rafael Salamanca Jr. is eyeing Bronx borough hall. He has to topple Vanessa Gibson to get there.

2 weeks ago | cityandstateny.com | Annie McDonough

New York City Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr. needs a new job. Term-limited from his South Bronx seat at the end of this year, the Democrat and chair of the council’s powerful Land Use Committee had a few possible paths to pursue. He could go the route of fellow former Bronx elected officials including Marcos Crespo, Ruben Diaz Jr. and Latoya Joyner and take a job at Montefiore Einstein.