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Dear New Yorkers,

The judge considering the Trump Justice Department’s highly unusual motion to dismiss Mayor Eric Adams’ corruption case on Friday appointed an outside counsel to help him decide what to do.

Manhattan Federal Judge Dale Ho assigned the task to Paul Clement, a former solicitor general for President George W. Bush.

Even as Ho is exploring his options, there’s another court that could potentially pick up the case against the mayor — one that’s already prosecuting a prominent Adams fundraiser, Weihong Hu.

Hu, a hotel owner who was indicted last week in a public corruption scheme, is now apparently in plea discussions with the feds. (Her lawyer denies the plea negotiations, despite a document filed in court that was signed by both sides that references “plea negotiations.”)

The immediate indictment describes a kickback scheme in which Hu allegedly bribed a nonprofit leader in exchange for city contracts. But as THE CITY has reported, Hu was deeply involved in other potentially illegal acts that could implicate Adams, his campaign and his administration.

If Hu were to fully cooperate with prosecutors, she could be an explosive witness against the embattled mayor.

Read more here about Judge Ho’s decision to enlist outside counsel and the significance of Weihong Hu’s possible plea talks.

Weather ☀️

Mostly sunny with a high near 47 — not too shabby!

MTA 🚇

There’s no 2 train between Jackson Ave and Grand Concourse — but there will be free shuttle buses. Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s in effect today, Feb. 24.

By the way…

Ballot petitioning for the mayoral election begins tomorrow, Feb. 25. That means you’ll see people on the street asking for signatures to get their candidate on the ballot. We answered a reader question about petitioning in last Thursday’s edition of the RANKED CHOICES newsletter — sign up here to get this week’s in your inbox!

Our Other Top Stories

In June, Democratic voters will have the opportunity to choose for themselves whether they want to re-nominate Adams as the party’s candidate for mayor. The field is broad and still taking shape, but it’s crystallizing by the day: Comptroller Brad Lander has kept his January lead as the best-financed candidate, but socialist Zohran Mamdani has slid into second. And rumors that former Gov. Andrew Cuomo or even City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams will join the race are still circulating. For the first time in decades, an effort is underway to reconsider the city’s approach to real estate development in a bid to help alleviate the housing crisis. Adams convened a Charter Revision Commission to consider changing the city’s governing document to potentially ease the processes surrounding land use — and the commission is stressing its independence from the besieged mayor.

Reporter’s Notebook

City Health Dept. to Release Congestion Pricing Air Quality Data — a Year From Now

An analysis measuring the impact of congestion pricing on air quality south of 60th Street and along six highway corridors in the city will be released next year, officials said Friday.

The study of the vehicle-tolling program’s effect is an expansion of the New York City Community Air Survey, which started in 2007. Run by the city Health Department and Queens College, it monitors how pollutants from traffic, buildings and other sources affect air quality.

The DOH also released a 12-page document detailing the study’s methodology and testing locations, which include stretches of the BQE, the FDR Drive, the Major Deegan and Cross Bronx and a portion of the I-95 in northern Manhattan.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and MTA officials have touted congestion pricing’s initial traffic-related gains in the zone, including fewer vehicles on the roads and increased bus speeds.

The program that was launched on Jan. 5 after a six month pause is facing its latest crisis after the president last week attempted to revoke federal permission. The MTA immediately sued to keep the tolls going.

— Jose Martinez

Things To Do

Here’s what’s going on around the city this week.

Monday, Feb. 24: See a preview of upcoming Latinx theater at the New York Library for the Performing Arts. 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25: Celebrate Black music history with a concert by trumpeter Alphonso Horne. Central Library, Jamaica, Queens. 6 p.m.  Wednesday, Feb. 26: Ever wondered what Seneca Village looked like before it was destroyed to create Central Park? Explore a 3D model and hear from the project’s creators about how they combined archeology, history, and architectural rendering to build a model of what the community, created in 1825 by Black landowners, may have looked like. Virtual meeting, 12 p.m.

THE KICKER: For the first time since the 90’s, the Yankees will once again be allowed to grow beards.

Thanks, as always, for reading. Make it a great Monday.

Love,

THE CITY

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