Zoom! And we're off! nytimes.com/live/2021/05/1… 
I will start threading debate tweets here...
The opening statements crystallized one of the big choices for voters: An outsider or an insider.
First q is on crime, which is rising in city as Democrat Party reconsiders the role of police.
The opening statements crystallized one of the big choices for voters: An outsider or an insider.
First q is on crime, which is rising in city as Democrat Party reconsiders the role of police.
Shaun Donovan's kitchen looks amazing
Asked about crime and police budgets, Yang says first thing he would do is go to police and say: “Your city needs you.”
Reiterates opposition to "defund the police."
"There is no recovery without public safety."
Reiterates opposition to "defund the police."
"There is no recovery without public safety."
Eric Adams, himself a former police officer, says that "Black Lives Matter" has to include Black people impacted by shootings in Black and brown communities.
.@errollouis is doing show of hands questions!
Everyone pledges police body footage released to public.
Everyone pledges police body footage released to public.
In the 2020 race, Democratic campaigns objected loudly to raise-your-hand questions after the first debate.
Multiple candidates have been spotted sipping water; Eric Adams was the first I have seen sipping a mug with a tea bag in it.
Really interesting: As Yang gave his answer to help the economic recovery, he pivoted to public safety, saying the economy can't truly recover without a widespread sense of safety.
Morales's unbridled progressivism can help her break through. So often it proves a debate advantage — at least on presentation — to have a clear ideological perspective without hedging on answers.
The first real sparring comes between....McGuire and Donovan?
McGuire accuses Donovan being “completely uninformed by the facts."
Wiley jumps into about men always claiming to have the answers.
McGuire accuses Donovan being “completely uninformed by the facts."
Wiley jumps into about men always claiming to have the answers.
McGuire and Donovan have clashed before. It is a fact of the classic "lane" theory of politics: Both are in the moderate, business-friendly Democrat lane.
A genuinely interesting set of regulation rollbacks recommended by all these candidates.
Ahead in polls, Yang does not appear to feel any urgency to butt into the conversation unless he is included. No one has swiped directly at him yet, either.
However Yang answers this @errollouis question about why he hasn't voted locally, the sharply worded question could be repackaged by his rivals.
Errol Louis follows up that he didn't even vote in the 2000 presidential race.
Yang recalls voting in that race.
Yang recalls voting in that race.
Yang says he helped swing the two Senate runoffs in Georgia.
That strains credulity to claim credit, even if he campaigned there.
Eric Adams jumps in to say Black women won those races for Democrats.
That strains credulity to claim credit, even if he campaigned there.
Eric Adams jumps in to say Black women won those races for Democrats.
Not clear why Louis is cutting off Maya Wiley while she engages Eric Adams on his record as a Republican.
He cut off Adams and Yang as they engaged, too.
He cut off Adams and Yang as they engaged, too.
Stringer explicitly invokes Tara Reade’s Biden allegation to refute his own accuser
"I quit five years ago"
How Maya Wiley defended her work for @BilldeBlasio.
Says she voted with her feet.
How Maya Wiley defended her work for @BilldeBlasio.
Says she voted with her feet.
“Don’t get me involved with your daddy’s problems" is a memorable line from @scottmstringer to @ShaunDonovanNYC over super PAC spending
Morales asks her Q to Adams: It's about defunding the police
Her says his comments were about the "disband" movement, to which she asks, "What's the disband movement?"
"Thank you for clarifying," she says respectfully.
"Thank you for clarifying," she says respectfully.
Yang Q to Morales: Basically promoting his cash relief stance, which she is also in favor of (during pandemic, at least)
Stringer to Yang: Asking about lobbyists backing his campaign
Yang says he agrees wholeheartedly on need for a mayor "not beholden to special interests."
Cleverly answer.
Cleverly answer.
Garcia to Morales: on priority for LGBT community for next mayor (this is a softball not hardball q)
It is clear that Maya Wiley and Eric Adams — who come from different ideological corners of the current Democratic Party — are very much in competition tonight.
Within moments, Yang goes from describing the context of what McGuire said he said to saying he doesn't remember saying it.
Candidates get 60-second answers for public education inequities.
That's @elizashapiro's music I hear.
That's @elizashapiro's music I hear.
Didn't include this exchange at time but a key education-related q earlier in the debate
https://twitter.com/erinmdurkin/status/1392997719615152133
Adams adds some live color commentary.
"Feisty!" he says as Morales and Donovan go back and forth.
He did this earlier, too.
"Feisty!" he says as Morales and Donovan go back and forth.
He did this earlier, too.
The disparity between the Yang approach tonight and his demeanor in the presidential debates is striking.
He is far more serious and focused. It is the difference between a candidate running to make a point (then) and one running to win (now).
He is far more serious and focused. It is the difference between a candidate running to make a point (then) and one running to win (now).
One name that hasn't come up (so far) but who plays a *huge* role in governing NYC: Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo
The question about who stays up late vs. gets up early reminds me of the Gillibrand 2020 debate answer where she said she tries to get 8 hours of sleep, which I deeply respected.
The answers to the "who should voters rank second" question:
Donovan: Wiley
McGuire: Garcia
Wiley: Morales
Adams: Won’t say
Garcia: Won’t say
Stringer: Won’t say
Yang: Garcia
Morales: Won't say
Donovan: Wiley
McGuire: Garcia
Wiley: Morales
Adams: Won’t say
Garcia: Won’t say
Stringer: Won’t say
Yang: Garcia
Morales: Won't say
I have smart colleagues: Read their analysis! nytimes.com/live/2021/05/1…
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