Politics Reporter

Chris Sommerfeldt

Chris Sommerfeldt is a reporter covering City Hall and all things NYC politics for the Daily News. Prior, Chris covered the Trump and Biden administrations, Congress and national politics. He began working for the Daily News in 2015 as a general assignment reporter. His superpower is biking everywhere, no matter the distance or the weather.

After coming under fire for calling migrants "excellent swimmers," Mayor Adams sought to clarify the comment Wednesday, saying it was based on in-person conversations he has had with newly-arrived asylum seekers living in city shelters.

Under fire for calling migrants ‘excellent swimmers,’ Adams says comment based on in-person convos

May 15, 2024 at 4:14 p.m.

After coming under fire for calling migrants "excellent swimmers," Mayor Adams sought to clarify the comment Wednesday, saying it was based on in-person conversations he has had with newly-arrived asylum...

Former NYC Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes Executive Director Hassan Naveed speaks at City Hall in June 2023.

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Muslim leaders, Council Dems decry Adams’ firing of NYC hate crimes prevention head

May 15, 2024 at 6:16 p.m.

A cadre of local Muslim groups and Democratic Council members fired off a letter to Mayor Adams on Wednesday condemning his "disheartening" termination of Hassan Naveed, the ex-head of City...

The first batch of closures mark a drop in the bucket as there are believed to be some 3,000 illegal pot shops operating in the Big Apple, most of which cropped up in the wake of the state legalizing marijuana in 2021 without immediately rolling out a comprehensive legal market.

NYC shutters 75 illicit weed shops in first week of crackdown, with hundreds and hundreds to go

May 14, 2024 at 5:42 p.m.

The first batch of closures mark a drop in the bucket as there are believed to be some 3,000 illegal pot shops operating in the Big Apple, most of which...

The move comes as Mayor Adams is pushing for the Council to approve a new top lawyer to replace current Corporation Counsel Sylvia Hinds-Radix.

NYC Council Dems consider bill requiring consent for mayor’s top appointments

May 14, 2024 at 5:47 p.m.

The move comes as Mayor Adams is pushing for the Council to approve a new top lawyer to replace current Corporation Counsel Sylvia Hinds-Radix.

Greco, who serves as Adams' Asian community liaison, came back to work in early May after going on paid sick leave in February in the wake of FBI agents raiding her two Pelham Bay homes.

Mayor Adams says he made the call to let Winnie Greco return to work after FBI raids

May 14, 2024 at 3:55 p.m.

Greco, who serves as Adams' Asian community liaison, came back to work in early May after going on paid sick leave in February in the wake of FBI agents raiding...

The training plan would affect several agencies outside the NYPD's purview, including the correction, sanitation, probation and parks departments.

Adams planning to consolidate training for all NYC enforcement personnel at NYPD academy

May 14, 2024 at 5:05 p.m.

The training plan would affect several agencies outside the NYPD's purview, including the correction, sanitation, probation and parks departments.

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Council members offered private meets with Randy Mastro as Adams pushes to make him top NYC lawyer

May 13, 2024 at 7:14 p.m.

The effort to broker private sit-downs with Mastro has unnerved some Council members, who question why they should meet with him even though he hasn't yet been officially nominated by...

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NYC still giving new contracts for migrant services to controversial provider DocGo

May 9, 2024 at 9:45 p.m.

DocGo, which has so far received tens of millions of dollars to help house and provide services for newly-arrived migrants, became the subject of a state attorney general's probe last...

NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell is pictured during the first quarter crime briefing press conference Wednesday, April 3, 2024 in Manhattan, New York.

Crime and Public Safety |
NYPD brass refuse to answer Council questions on controversial social media posts during tense hearing

May 10, 2024 at 10:18 a.m.

After two months of speaking their minds on social media, NYPD officials were tight-lipped about their controversial posts at a City Council hearing Thursday as two department executives responsible for...

After the searches, City Hall announced Greco had gone on paid sick leave due to an unspecified medical condition. At the time, City Hall said Greco would have to go on unpaid leave after her medical absence was over.

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New York Politics |
Adams adviser Winnie Greco returns to work at City Hall months after FBI raids

May 8, 2024 at 7:25 p.m.

After the searches, City Hall announced Greco had gone on paid sick leave due to an unspecified medical condition. At the time, City Hall said Greco would have to go...

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