Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled an ambitious list of plans for 2025 in her fourth State of the State address. The list of promises included checks for New Yorkers, tax cuts, new money for transit projects, cops on the subway and programs supporting pregnant women. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan break down what the governor is proposing and the likelihood that it will happen.    After that, 2025 is an election year - and the mayor’s race is already heating up. The field is starting to take shape for the mayoral primary in June, and new fundraising figures were out this week. The “Off Topic’ team looks at Mayor Eric Adams’ reelection chances and discuss how Andrew Cuomo’s rumored comeback could have an impact on the race.

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Congestion pricing is finally here. As of Sunday, New Yorkers are being charged $9 during peak hours to enter the Central Business District in Manhattan below 60th Street. The initiative has sparked both outrage and celebration. It will take some time to determine whether the plan is a success or failure, and Gov. Kathy Hochul said we won't be able to tell until 2026 — the year she is up for reelection. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, and political reporters Bobby Cuza and Dan Rivoli, weigh in on this historic occasion in New York’s transit history.

After that, Mayor Eric Adams delivered his fourth state of the city address this week from the stage at the Apollo Theater, outlining the rationale for his reelection to a second term. The mayor unveiled several plans, including one to build tens of thousands of housing units in Manhattan. The “Off Topic’ team looks at the mayor’s final address of his first term and what New Yorkers can expect in 2025.

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It’s a new year, but the same old problems are facing Mayor Adams.

Jeffrey Maddrey resigned last month as the NYPD’s chief of department after a lieutenant accused him of coercing her into having sex. On Thursday, federal agents raided Maddrey’s home for undisclosed reasons. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan discuss the latest scandal in Adams’ mayoralty.

After that, last week the state attorney general released hours of video footage showing an inmate at an upstate prison, Robert Brooks, being beaten by state correction officers with his hands handcuffed behind his back. He died on Dec. 10 — sparking outrage and drastic calls for reform of the notoriously opaque prison system. The “Off Topic” team looks at what his death means for prison reform and what Gov. Kathy Hochul is doing about it. 

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This week, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Mayor Eric Adams' former chief adviser, along with her son and two real estate investors, were charged in an alleged bribery conspiracy. The charges come as the mayor himself faces a separate corruption case. Lewis-Martin, who resigned Sunday from her role as one of the most powerful officials in City Hall, has said she's being "falsely accused." NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan look into the charges against Lewis-Martin and at how they will impact the mayor.

After that, the mayor was denied public matching funds for his reelection campaign this week, while President-elect Donald Trump also expressed some openness to a pardon for the mayor. What does this mean for his trial and his potential reelection? The “Off Topic” team gives the latest on where things stand with Eric Adams.

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This week, a New York City jury found Marine veteran Daniel Penny not guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Jordan Neely. The jury’s verdict came days after the judge dismissed the top count of manslaughter against Penny, after jurors said they were deadlocked on it. The trial captivated New Yorkers and the country — and was seen as an example of the mental health crisis facing the city. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross and political reporters Bobby Cuza and Dan Rivoli weighed in on the verdict and what it may say about race and subway safety.

After that, with the presidential election behind us, New Yorkers have turned their attention to the mayor’s race. New candidates are jumping in, hoping to unseat the incumbent. The “Off Topic” team shared the latest on where things stand in the 2025 race, as well as whether Mayor Adams will be eligible to receive public matching funds due to his legal issues.

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This week, Mayor Eric Adams announced he will work with the Trump administration on immigration policy. Trump has picked Tom Homan as his border czar, and the mayor seems willing to meet with him. Adams also suggested the Department of Justice is biased after fielding a question about Hunter Biden's pardon. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and political director Bob Hardt weigh in on the mayor’s recent support of the president-elect, as well as how far he will go before losing New York City Democrats, if he hasn't already.

After that, jurors have been sitting in a courtroom in Lower Manhattan for weeks hearing hours of testimony regarding the death of Jordan Neely — a homeless man with mental illness who was killed on the subway last year. Daniel Penny is accused of criminally negligent homicide and manslaughter in the case. NY1 political reporter Dan Rivoli has been in the courtroom every day, and he joins the “Off Topic’ team for an inside look at the trial ahead of a verdict.

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After several months of searching, Mayor Adams has picked a new police commissioner, Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who will officially take over the NYPD next week. This is the fourth police commissioner for Mayor Eric Adams in less than three years. What does her appointment say about where the Adams administration wants to go with policing? NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross and political reporters Bobby Cuza and Kelly Mena discuss Tisch’s career in city government and how it led to this position.

After that, this week saw a horrific series of deadly stabbings that were allegedly committed by a homeless man with a lengthy criminal record. The stabbing spree, which left three people dead, shocked the city. Mayor Adams claims the murders are more about how society handles people with serious mental illness than the actual safety of the city. The “Off Topic” team looks at how New Yorkers are feeling in the aftermath of these tragic killings.

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This week, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced she was reviving New York City's congestion pricing plan with a reduced base fare. Under the new plan, the toll for private vehicles entering Manhattan south of 60th Street will be set at $9 for E-ZPass users. If greenlit by the federal government, the toll would begin in January. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan weigh in on the governor’s decision to revisit the plan and the divided reactions from lawmakers across the state.

After that, the City Council has passed a bill requiring landlords to pay brokers directly, unless their prospective tenant hires a broker independently. The Real Estate Board of New York opposed the measure, claiming landlords footing the fees will result in much higher rents for tenants. The “Off Topic” team looks at this new initiative and how it will affect New Yorkers.

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Many New Yorkers were perplexed by Donald Trump's decision to appear at Madison Square Garden a week before the election, but it appears the move may have paid some political dividends in New York. The president-elect made serious inroads in the city, improving on both his 2020 and 2016 numbers. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and political director Bob Hardt look at Trump’s victory and the reasons behind his improved performance in New York City.

After that, there was some positive news down-ballot for New York Democrats. Following big midterm losses in 2022, Dems flipped three House seats back on Long Island and in the Hudson Valley. The "Off Topic" team discuss the results further down the ticket. 

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Election Day is just around the corner and control of the U.S. House of Representatives may run right through New York. There are several competitive races across the state that deserve scrutiny. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and Washington correspondent Kevin Frey weigh in on some key congressional races, as well as the six ballot measures on the back of the ticket.

After that, Mayor Adams has been very reluctant to criticize Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. In his recent rally at Madison Square Garden, Trump raised eyebrows when he praised the mayor. So what’s behind the niceties between the two politicians and what might the mayor have to gain by staying on Trump's good side? The “Off Topic" team looks at Adams’ willingness to all but break from his party right before Election Day.

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The City Council held a six-hour hearing this week, questioning city officials about Mayor Adams’ "City of Yes" housing plan. The mayor wants to change zoning codes to allow for more housing, but critics say the plan would destroy the character of their neighborhoods and put pressure on infrastructure that is already crumbling. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross and political reporters Bobby Cuza and Kelly Mena discuss the proposal, as well as the reactions from local communities.

After that, Spectrum News hosted the only debate this year between the two major candidates in New York’s U.S. Senate race. Democratic incumbent Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Republican challenger Mike Sapraicone sparred on stage at the University at Albany. The debate tackled hot topics, including immigration, crime and the economy. The “Off Topic” team weighs in on the candidates’ performances in New York’s capital city.

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