1. Mayor Eric Adams Indicted
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is currently facing significant legal challenges after being indicted on federal charges this week, including bribery and soliciting illegal foreign donations for his campaign. The allegations stem from an extensive investigation into his 2021 election campaign, particularly concerning connections to the Turkish government and potential unlawful contributions. Adams has consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he will not resign and is prepared to contest the charges in court. Several high-profile officials have called on Adams to resign, including U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and State Sens. John Liu and Zellnor Myrie.
2. Government Shutdown Avoided
Congress successfully passed a short-term spending bill on September 25, which will fund the government until December 20, thereby averting a potential shutdown set to occur at the end of the month. The bipartisan legislation was successful after previous attempts to link funding with controversial voter registration requirements, known as the SAVE Act, failed due to opposition from both Democrats and some Republicans. The bill maintains current funding levels while also allocating additional resources for the Secret Service in light of recent security concerns. New York’s entire Congressional delegation voted in favor of the bill, with the exception of U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, who did not vote.
3. Election Highlight: John Mannion
CSEA is proud to endorse John Mannion in his bid for New York’s 22nd Congressional District. Mannion, a former union president, strongly supports working people. Mannion has served for two terms in the State Senate, where he was one of the loudest voices fighting to Fix Tier 6. He also fought for the creation of good-paying union jobs and funding for education, health care and other vital services. During these divisive times, we need leaders who will put people over politics. John has a track record of working with both parties to make common sense decisions for Central New Yorkers. We need that leadership in Congress.
You can find all of CSEA’s endorsed candidates by region here.
4. Project 2025: Hurricane Helene
The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 is a policy playbook for the next Republican administration that would fundamentally alter the way our government functions. As Hurricane Helene batters the southeastern United States, it is important to note that Project 2025 advocates for dismantling the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) [p.674], which oversees critical services such as the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the National Weather Service (NWS). Millions of Americans rely on these agencies for timely and accurate hurricane forecasts essential for safety and emergency preparedness during storm events like Helene. Disbanding this agency would compromise the reliability of weather information, potentially endangering lives by undermining the very systems designed to protect communities from devastating hurricanes.
This is just one of the many negative impacts that Project 2025 would have. In each issue, we’ll be highlighting additional areas of concern. To read the full document, click here. You can also view and share our Project 2025 fliers here.
5. CSEA Legislative Toolkit
We’re encouraging members to get the word out about our legislative successes. Click the icons below for informational documents that you can print, share, and post on social media to spread the news. You can also check out CSEA’s summary of the 2024-2025 Enacted Budget here.
Tier 6 Reform:
Updating Civil Service Exams:
Counting Provisional Time Toward Promotions:
Employee Notice of Records Disclosure:
Minimum Age & Education Requirements for Exams: