NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman spar over immigration, cost of living in debate

Today's newsletter is curated by James Ramsay

Weather: ⛅ Mostly sunny, with a slight chance of a midday shower and highs near 80.

It's Wednesday in New York, where New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman sparred over immigration policy, President Donald Trump and who deserves blame for the rising cost of living during a 60-minute debate last night.

The debate — the only one scheduled ahead of the Nov. 3 gubernatorial election — seemed to lack any major gaffes or viral moments that could meaningfully shift the race.

Could Knicks owner James Dolan's fundraiser for Blakeman at tomorrow night's preseason game at Madison Square Garden shift the race? They'll hope — recent polls show Hochul with anywhere from a 9- to 19-point lead over Blakeman.

Here's what else is happening:

• The New York City Council and Mayor Zohran Mamdani yesterday announced that they plan to ban carriage horses in Central Park.
• Public health officials in Otsego and Seneca Counties said they believe the measles outbreak is even bigger than New York state’s count shows.
• Ferry Point Park in the Bronx is set to get a $160 million makeover with new playgrounds, landscaping and athletic fields surrounding the forthcoming Bally's Bronx casino.
• A Manhattan judge is facing discipline after he pulled out his gun during a proceeding for a legal “experiment,” according to the state commission on judicial conduct.
• A decade of disruptions for commuters who use the Port Authority’s Midtown Bus Terminal is set to begin on Thursday when construction starts on the next phase of the terminal's $11 billion renovation.
• ICE has acknowledged using a warehouse in Roxbury, New Jersey, to process immigrants after arresting them, Gothamist has learned.
  • This comes a month after the New Jersey attorney general’s office said it was “carefully reviewing” a claim that ICE was illegally detaining immigrants at the facility.
• City officials yesterday urged New Yorkers to boycott Target following reports that ICE agents have been using its Marble Hill store’s parking lot as a staging area, including before an action last week that ended with an ICE officer shooting a man in the neck.
• A Manhattan neurologist was charged yesterday with sexually abusing two of his patients.
• Starting next week, 22 city-funded food pantries will begin offering dog and cat food.
• Correction: Tuesday's newsletter misstated the name of the luxury high-rise that was powered by a rumbling generator for over a month. It's known as The Greenpoint.

• Michael Kotlikoff, the president of Cornell University, told the Times he learned that Jane Doe had reported being gang-raped shortly after the frat party in 2024 but never followed up with her, and said he's "personally sorry" for "what she experienced."
• Mayor Mamdani said yesterday he has no plans to fire NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch following outcry from New York City's DSA chapter over the ICE shooting in Marble Hill.
• Two major Republican super PACs are redirecting money away from New Jersey Rep. Tom Kean Jr.'s reelection bid.
• Eric Adams did not succeed at convincing the town of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, to build a 150-megawatt data center, nor did he appear to make friends along the way.
• 🎃 Here's a map of the North Jersey houses with good spooky decorations.
• The Jacket Olympics opening ceremony is set for this weekend.
• Go ahead, swish your Guinness.