Queens Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani appears to be gaining ground on former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the crowded Democratic primary to replace Mayor Eric Adams, a new Emerson College/Pix11/The Hill poll revealed on Wednesday.

The survey of 1,000 registered likely Democratic city voters, conducted during May 23-26, has Cuomo nabbing 35% of the vote to Mamdani’s 23% in the first round of ranked-choice — a 12 point difference between the first and second place candidates. But while the poll’s ranked-choice simulation has Cuomo winning in the 10th round with 54%, Mamdani is only eight points behind with 46%.

Mayor Adams was not part of the survey, as he opted out of the primary to run in the November general election instead as an independent.

The poll shows Mamdani significantly narrowing the gap between himself and Cuomo compared to a string of other recent surveys. It also comes after Mamdani released an internal poll on Tuesday that showed him performing better in the first round, 27% to Cuomo’s 40%, in the first round.

“Cuomo has led in the polls since early 2025, but Mamdani has surged, gaining 23 points and winning second-choice votes nearly 2-to-1, cutting Cuomo’s ranked-choice lead from 12 points to 9 points,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, in a statement. Kimball was comparing Mamdani’s performance in Wednesday’s poll with how he fared in a February Emerson survey, before Cuomo officially entered the race.

“With four weeks to go, the question is whether Cuomo can run out the clock, or if he needs to win over second-choice voters to hold off Mamdani’s momentum,” he added.

Kimball said Cuomo’s strongest support comes from Black voters (74%), those over 50 (66%), and women (58% to 42%); Mamdani is strongest among voters under 50 (61%), white voters (57% to 43%), and those who are college-educated (58% to 42%).

The poll comes after Cuomo and Mamdani, along with several other candidates, have been airing TV ads for weeks. Mamdani’s ads have focused on introducing himself and his vision to voters while casting Cuomo as corrupt and beholden to moneyed interests over working people.

Cuomo’s ads, meanwhile, have touted his record as a get-things-done governor prior to his resignation while painting the city as being in crisis and at a crossroads.

Campaigns’ takes

The Mamdani campaign was quick to celebrate the survey results, saying they show that Cuomo has “hit his ceiling, while we’re nowhere near ours.”

“In just a few weeks, we will defeat the disgraced ex-governor and send him back to the suburbs,” the campaign said in a statement. “As the race enters the final stretch, our campaign will leverage an unprecedented field operation—which has knocked on more than 600,000 doors with over 25,000 volunteers—to bring our vision for a rent freeze, fast and free buses, cheaper groceries and universal childcare to as many New Yorkers as possible and win a city that everyone can afford to call home.”

Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi said the poll “appears to be an outlier,” referencing other recent surveys where Cuomo led Mamdani by at least 19 points in the first round and broke 50% in the fifth.

“The facts across the board remain the same — Andrew Cuomo is the consistent and overwhelming frontrunner in this race,” Azzopardi said in a statement. “That’s because New Yorkers know he is the only candidate in this race with the executive experience and the proven record of results to fix what’s broken and put this city back on the right track after 12 years of failed leadership.” 

Coming behind Cuomo and Mamdani in the first round are city Comptroller Brad Lander (11%), his predecessor Scott Stringer (10%), City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (8%), and state Sen. Zellnor Myrie (5%). Lander is eliminated in the ninth round of ranked choice with 22%, while Stringer makes it to eigth round with 13%, and Speaker Adams to the seventh round with 10%.

The poll also asked voters about the preferences in a potential general election matchup that includes Cuomo as the Democratic candidate, Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa as the Republican, and Adams and attorney Jim Walden as independents. It has Cuomo winning with a 44% plurality, Sliwa comes in second at 13%, Adams third at 10%, and Walden last at 7% with 26% undecided.

THE CITY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED the Atlantic-Avenue Mixed Use Plan, a rezoning in the districts of councilmembers Crystal Hudson and Chi Ossé. 

The post City Council approves Atlantic Avenue Mixed Use Plan appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

A 12-year-old boy was pinned beneath a train near the Myrtle Avenue station on Monday morning.

The post 12-year-old boy struck by train in Bed-Stuy appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its bonsai collection, one of the oldest and largest such public displays.

The post Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s bonsai collection turns 100 appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

Patti LaBelle marked her birthday with a vibrant performance at the Barclays Center, dancing to 50 Cent’s “In Da Club” and captivating the audience.

The post Patti LaBelle birthday-bashed at Barclays Center appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

A day after the MTA won a court ruling allowing New York to keep getting critical transit funding from the federal government, the agency announced another major milestone for congestion pricing.

The controversial toll program in New York City has generated $215.7 million year to date so far in 2025. It collected $56.7 million in April alone, agency leadership said. 

“We continue to be on target with our projections,” Jai Patel, co-chief financial officer for the MTA, said. 

The revenue collected in April is just below the $58.4 million the agency generated in March. 

Drivers entering Manhattan south of 61st Street have had to pay a base toll of $9 since Jan. 5. Fees vary depending on the time of day and the type of vehicle. The year-to-date revenue generated keeps the MTA on track for its $500 million goal for 2025.

According to the MTA, congestion pricing tolls are intended to pay for improvements to the city’s public transportation system, including updated signaling on segments of busy train lines, new electric buses, structural repairs and the Second Avenue Subway extension into East Harlem. 

But the program is not without its challenges, mostly from the federal government, which has been attempting to cancel the program since Feb. 19 when U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Sean Duffy revoked federal approval of the program that was given under former President Joe Biden’s administration. 

Gov. Kathy Hochul and the MTA responded the same day with a lawsuit.

The MTA’s ongoing legal battle for congestion pricing

The MTA won a battle in federal court on May 27, when Judge Lewis Liman blocked the USDOT from making retaliatory funding cuts against the state of New York as the fate of the tolls continues to play out. 

The block, which is also referred to as a temporary restraining order or TRO, is in effect until June 9. 

But a spokesperson for the USDOT said the TRO is only a “temporary pause” to have more time to reach a ruling. The federal department has said congestion pricing is a toll on working-class families and business owners. 

“The judge’s ruling today was not on the merits of our case against Hochul’s class warfare, but rather a temporary pause to have more time to reach a decision,” the USDOT spokesperson said. “Enforcement actions for noncompliance were merely under consideration, and we will comply with the judge’s request to hold.” 

The USDOT’s argument is that the tolls are unlawful, as there is no toll-free way to enter the congestion-relief area in Manhattan. 

“We look forward to making our case in court against Hochul’s illegal tolls as we work to protect working-class Americans from being unfairly charged to go to work, see their families, or visit the city,” the spokesperson said. 

Meanwhile, transit advocacy groups applauded both the financial achievements of congestion pricing and its win in court.

“Traffic is down, business is up and congestion pricing works,” Lisa Daglian, executive director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, said. “The cameras are staying on, and we thank Judge Liman for his ruling.”

Danny Pearlstein, policy and communications director of the Riders Alliance, said the court decision is a “victory for millions of transit riders” in NYC.

“New York riders are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the MTA, New York City and state in defense of our way of life,” he said. “We are eager to keep saving time on the bus and look forward to more reliable and accessible subways thanks to this policy that continues to win support.”