---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Gothamist <gothamist@lists.wnyc.org> Date: Fri, Apr 18, 2025, 9:38 AM Subject: Trump vs. Letitia James: What's behind the fraud accusations To: <g@xny.io> Plus: Turn an infamous heliport into a park? View this email in a browser. <https://view.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=b180e7f40ecc73f67d465222f199ac5f1086370d0628753ef33edc437d8a99249ec06a29846095e40bd3e1bea968aa4ba302d15d3e9cc908c1afe8a4967cb2622dd041a2a3788693ad3dae993f6360f4> <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b610c581386f2f1d82414536bfd6152ef59ed13035147418ebe0721653994dee5a89da8a3754cd3218c24c30f5de47a0b4> Gothamist relies on your support to make local news available to all. Not yet a member? Consider donating and join today. <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b62bd26277ecfe4ea3f5afd00f93645b81e13a7c2c50e98184e80653ac9861fee6dc4f2795e62565724983c5cd8e2fd598> <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6efe524eea4660a69469b706eacb4b8f9091a270a8d12af8c7e9ee3629048261b7d0e90dedc9280b2975df471dbd3995b> <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b62865c1987f29bd0390c67d58628d29ba70f3fafbfc831b976cecc20465f7f7f6ba99c01645b2c2b5e3a1a7d531b783dc> <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b62d36883e79c22dd2d0679f4df50b2652d989c05b92efc85314550086ca47d10d99aa62700a9fb0f0a5e6e5def4d68fa6> Trump vs. NY AG Letitia James: What's behind the fraud accusations in an ongoing feud <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6aa14a6dbf517c3cd74505816e7ff5dbdfe32707b61f1c193a4e07de5bc9a002393a892705a8e1de4529a4f62c55a5695> [image: New York AG Letitia James at a press conference] <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b66f904c9c9bfa5e1f7ca9305578bd97f60b77ee83b45c88c423a2e123cfd5b4f89df1ac4cc92fae8ae2a2488b724c718e> *Today's newsletter is curated by James Ramsay <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6e69e295472f7e078534f316aab7e30806d9efa744bb3140565ca47eb90db51f6a4c99e3ee7d572cf3830c7859aecff58>* *Weather*: ☀️ Sunny, highs in the upper 60s. It's Friday in New York City, where the state's attorney general, *Letitia James*, lives in a Clinton Hill brownstone. But in 2023, she signed a notarized mortgage document for a house in Norfolk, Virginia, stating that she intended to "occupy this property as my principal residence." Now, the Federal Housing Finance Agency is referring James — who has a history of challenging President Donald Trump in court — for potential criminal prosecution for mortgage fraud. Here's what we know about these accusations — and the political feud behind it all <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b621ba4d098825412c07c3442b2a1d3c81607014f82c827a2c4e11f37b9d06be4f138b7c9deaca87d7df808b75e2705eac> . And here's what else is happening: - Are we getting a Trump Station? The federal Department of Transportation said it's taking over the reconstruction <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b696b65f93e5367ba1fda2458bb60dde223d7982ee0f973ff93949afe884474b3dbcbcd89d09e304919016791fc1786914> of *Penn Station* and kicking the MTA off the project. - Mayor Eric Adams' administration, meanwhile, is quietly standing up to Trump's transportation department <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6e8290bbe0bf94d1975969fe2e3dfaca3c01d1b42c30327df71a0a8bf59ad8af178f97a1775809bf6eaf8d73907d32d5a>, arguing in a new court filing that the president's attempt to kill *congestion pricing* "undermines the rule of law itself." - The disgruntled former operator of the *Downtown Manhattan Heliport* said the city should replace the waterfront landing pad with a park <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6f4b4a282217a32984c103e727ea04989f88c3cb372c4faf538164558f227ab8277a8754d8e43c176cc3f63d1ba4d8faf> after last week’s helicopter crash in the Hudson River. - Who is *Mohsen Mahdawi*, the Columbia student arrested by ICE this week? A prominent advocate for peace between Israel and Gaza <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b67b930a0436d66d4b06c15688c2aabb0a15dc5d0eab6eb7655283d3fc0f475033b5d6c2cf57d74dcad7b1669bfa37396a>, his classmates and professors told Gothamist. - Five months into *Jessica Tisch*'s tenure as the commissioner of the NYPD, it's apparent that she's breaking from her predecessors by cracking down on police officers found guilty of misconduct <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b61e4a5b1feef5ac40fa2d7945fba7b895fb31be8b5797de2f8ab84d7206c7f733c272a787bd314290690dd845854da8cd> . - *Luigi Mangione*, who federal prosecutors say should face the death penalty for allegedly murdering a health care CEO in Midtown last year, was formally indicted on federal charges <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6cd33167e89cad6e182bf107d7a87663b93f5289011ddfcf6acaa0191db4b660d5ebdb84f32cf9fa568dcbc5f78ee9132> yesterday. - Starting this month, New Yorkers receiving *cash assistance* could be at risk of losing their benefits if they don’t show that they're working <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b62a0986716afd471d00e28a3794b154372579cdbc5917a5890f9b243828a92f3cc962a6c2a8e4c423826185d4a5a016bd>, enrolled in a job search program or have evidence that they can’t work. - The Trump administration has halted construction on a *major offshore wind project* on Long Island that supporters say would power more than 1 million homes <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6683047c5e6a6d7218d179e67bcbef10805387e7a1c9f23a92da22bba5e4cd484d6b892df417dee141518237948189dc1> . - The affluent town of *Emerson, New Jersey*, has rejected a proposal from a nonprofit to open a new facility to house homeless families <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6d57cdaf85e6455ed66c34a45f70f0a6f73933ed50a6d8158695630f9dde0421a475fa33391f2bc9ec6a86b0af4c2adb0> . - *Zyn pouches* will *not* be banned <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6cbc863d050277a2e955918285857ed6d36fd958c95c82fcb146aefb34e0a8e9e5f2358c9079486aeda291599f79e72b8> as part of this year's New York state budget deal. - For *National Poetry Month*, WNYC's Morning Edition is collecting your poems in the spirit of different literary genres. For next week, we want your poems inspired by "mystery." Just send us your poem with a voice recording, along with your name and where you live, to yourvoice@wnyc.org . <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b653e8fe3d6475c38b38af1c5e506b1c826a002ff2561488762c018b1fb3a9bfc90245aabd3c5e42f596d51a61aa410abe> <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6fee5c23a18c919370de7ef79f117eaf54ccd261ec2c7cd07d525dcf7f66f28d45add35b50ecffbf05bf8d63450dbde25> <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b661c054e250f868916a04e1dc87cff9ea433347f4bec5764a25d46bdf5a5050638623314f9f5741df5feb28dc68bd8775> - *Mayor Adams*' t-shirt thing <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6f8cabce5c6476a9b780ca2df72878210f855bae545c40c3fd90d6d7e88d14cec6933e7d26253da22499cc5ee2d2aa5e7> took another weird turn this week <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6592ce2efe6142114f2856fe354f8e01dbcabf4bacc73e25333446257ac56e78aeb8a97c0834b47668f1d8a501e49fe69> . - *"New Sounds"* lives, thanks in part to the anonymous donor of $1.2 million <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b65f7df805cb1c9b02906fdc6ff94eb93213d6e4f127bfab3c379886fa5292e66a85f415429ed772c5c36d456fcc7a1b1a>. ("New Sounds" and Gothamist are both owned by New York Public Radio.) - State Sen. *Jessica Ramos*, who's among the candidates challenging Andrew Cuomo for the Democratic mayoral nomination, said the former governor's "mental acuity is in decline <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b60b7acb8e5710afb4ece47fa4578f958446c2594aca1184467f565670f174f22c51d973bf2ad867b844a487c6d79a8224>," adding that the city can't afford "a Joe Biden moment." - *Bellevue Hospital* officials say their new medical unit designed for treating Rikers Island detainees is finished and ready for use. The corrections department disagrees <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6f990c61b92bb39a7162ba944e4f2255007debc5772b306054690a1446c08b7e4892c3248f6df5961211506259b987511> . - *Shen Yun* is being sued by two former dancers for allegedly making its fortune off the back of an "army of child laborers <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6686f5aab0af88c59574ca7d361e3d725ee08e1647dac8b7574441995092120262362e1ca4a50f4bcdb8d1b0e5d99d0fd> ." - "The crew who flew to space this week on an automated flight by *Blue Origin* were brave and glam, but you cannot identify as an astronaut. They do not meet the FAA astronaut criteria," said federal transportation secretary Sean Duffy <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6dac7bb78367600a24fe856c9fa8579e7eb41a37397db22f5ddee8922d2a3892e518e6703208db7a757575b9802fa270f> . - Big old *brutalist* office for sale <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b69a30fc88657ebe698bd25712984e306e5cf46270b99420a67ee09865087bbf2d31b4201425271cf001f97bc430737fa5> . - "Most Americans aren't hurting for <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b67d5c27bd2e17aaa0d03782fc8af8c1ea172b5e3e4ea40b6685e21b4ff425109106a5e2815366334c164198a05ebeb294> *protein*." <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b65f1bd5c8b61cbfa16e452289c8349376608c38e7992ac2bd439973613373f78b661f5b55a1cf162b917c0689f5ecdf15> <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b65f1bd5c8b61cbfa16e452289c8349376608c38e7992ac2bd439973613373f78b661f5b55a1cf162b917c0689f5ecdf15> <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b67e72addb8572a5cba2210a658c8989c8eee4b7b80f658b4c5ba5cf09e666af07acf5200cbe01178c4c632a71fe1d0588> <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6b27fea8f561bd4b2c7fb2156ff16c28e8d98524d806a780f86aa4ff9ada68029d8959a00e18db5f50942588d288eb605> “I want to thank the president and Secretary Duffy for taking on the sole responsibility to deliver the beautiful new $7 billion station that New Yorkers deserve.” <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6cf85ba05d5f03bcee3d2a5ba2054adbbd9f194ea1b38430fae144f161b96ae29936a5c8ab5617ff943849b0c71dc1d86> - Gov. Kathy Hochul on THE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT'S TAKEOVER OF THE PENN STATION RENOVATION <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b66b723574acb0cf5c561a2e964717577f04966a5cd2e00ff47953a877347a586077c14caf88562158c13076980df30c09> More from Gothamist [image: people walking down a busy Manhattan sidewalk] <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b68244bcd27aff4498e03320a7a12ff5b98974b11acef75f2c63233503a5394060344247a44de1ca9b216052627fda693a> NYC could lose 71K jobs due to Trump's tariffs. That's the good news, report says. <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6270d3af2b96b58ff8bb282f5f4b6ec4b47a4472f041b5be2e9cccb3d67391febc129100e14e79cda0b9d603e8520a6e5> Comptroller Brad Lander said the city could lose 150,000 jobs if the tariffs create a "severe recession." Inside the auditions for the New York Liberty’s over-40 dance squad <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b65df2585175d23ad2d946e39d1b53c6092e1a2d50e161d16e0b1acf55d00c27d358a78b55ea44ec43be4493e6f03318cd> "We are telling people: Just because you're a certain age, life doesn't end," team captain Margaret Hamilton said. [image: We rely on your support to make local news available to all.] <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6656c2cdbe4ab52474ee4ff7bbbba26a86ed84cca76ebb6c1019bd50d4c7a4fcc2af0e54bbf82d9366ef39ec73ed145bb> 10 great restaurants to visit in the West Village, no matter your budget <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6fb563a3d84056ac912cd1178fcaeb7257257a3de0c9134a5fd99eeca21822574b737a9ac27168510df4cb66daa290d3b> Veteran food writer Robert Sietsema gives a tour of the leafy neighborhood's surprisingly affordable dining options. Modern garbage bins uptown mark latest step towards containerizing NYC's trash <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6ef56bc8af65494cb0418eac36851fde0bc92d9db1a5ee7b571cef97dd76dc288c61bcc100e0fb6aebf218a9b4e503821> The new “Empire Bins” are now set up outside eight uptown schools, where they’re used to collect compost, recycling and garbage. [image: Instagram] <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6f186d1a964dbf59779f015a223f8ec29e9fcdd893f0ec3a1054dca57fb6cf78db30363f9f6ef1e03b6d70728e72b8a9f> Instagram <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6f186d1a964dbf59779f015a223f8ec29e9fcdd893f0ec3a1054dca57fb6cf78db30363f9f6ef1e03b6d70728e72b8a9f> [image: Facebook] <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6d260cde8a3cae6b4e21a670957a3aa91d38f48e146624e9c6c82a3954c3522ca8ac1c9231cd03cf4ea9ad2883ea6af7b> Facebook <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6d260cde8a3cae6b4e21a670957a3aa91d38f48e146624e9c6c82a3954c3522ca8ac1c9231cd03cf4ea9ad2883ea6af7b> [image: Twitter] <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b637b1666bbe07b650dfea3619facbebaca04e150ca908e830c41776b0443543b5b2c215a2338f5e20db5345eced7a0414> Twitter <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b637b1666bbe07b650dfea3619facbebaca04e150ca908e830c41776b0443543b5b2c215a2338f5e20db5345eced7a0414> <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b694ab2cb7c1fd25b7e6b87275cc4e34405e27b0566b54e5da71478dd83928119c52043c69da5383044a8d127d3c7933b4> <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b680f418f28a3c2b09ca30a7d3c9c1230fe35d1eb18ad12e8b96a04d4a28dbc13f130c691ff8adda495449c7e214e931d4> <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b648996a46c667a9bd19992084ccd320a64b46f238bb1f2c16d04174a31e7f37ff10fe212012d66a0ac452a95e612b20b8> [image: New York Public Radio] WNYC <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b64fd133e6487665356f6f7c383b4398de8fcfedeba273f2a92dca1c3957e6d652691b4c0bec02868a65e61fb4536791de> | WQXR <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b65f990f0eb96c6bd29fa63c6d82b1846fa18f8883c27e6ff1b076d87e157d83ed078e8c216411d8dab9b7cf041ad21bd8> | NJPR <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b658a4132f23b57653e2b80db09b9aacfaf6cec0051fead5fbf059967f94571589f31f513f2a03c2e7df9f1bea40fb9c23> | GOTHAMIST <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b65979b137b3dfc9064e33f0282b603f56c7cdaa0793e4e14521e08a718c7f42db2277f9289f7714e7eb1d4fd10085ad89> WNYC STUDIOS <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b6d5ce3b80835583bc7e48e96a14abbad1dc0b1cdd571cb794f125a17588e1841852a2e9f18df23c0dc60a650cba844832> | THE GREENE SPACE <https://click.lists.wnyc.org/?qs=bfb848bdc37c68b617c6586e6ae647becd8708ce982b88d4ff47a9b7253d9911972a56a4f135fc90483a0a971a9698a5faa2323321f31343> Copyright © New York Public Radio. 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