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Politico
14-05-2025
- Business
- Politico
New Yorkers get that Kathy Kash
Presented by Solving Hunger YOU GET A CHECK, AND YOU GET A CHECK, AND YOU GET A CHECK: Gov. Kathy Hochul's grand idea to dole out 'inflation refund' checks to millions of New Yorkers is now a reality. Having overcome initial opposition from inside the state Senate and the Assembly, Hochul will start sending out one-time checks worth up to $400 to at least 8 million New Yorkers by the fall, as she gears up for her reelection run, she announced today. And, to borrow a phrase from the inflation refund check queen herself, that's 'more money back in your pockets.' Hochul's unprecedented move to send moolah to millions of New Yorkers comes as dramatic funding cuts from Washington looms while the GOP-led Congress continues to hash out the federal budget. 'This is basically one-time non-recurring money, so I can't use this to make up for Medicaid cuts or education cuts or anything else,' Hochul told reporters today. 'What's the number one issue on people's minds? It's affordability. … I want them to feel the impact that they have a government that listens to them and is taking care of their basic needs.' Hochul's way-early Christmas gift to middle-class New Yorkers was initially supposed to be worth up to $500. The move to lower the checks by $100 was part of a $1 billion reduction to the affordability plan she first announced in January and meant 500,000 fewer New Yorkers would receive the checks. The checks are intended to be a 'refund' to New Yorkers who paid higher sales taxes when inflation raged in 2022 and Hochul discovered about $3 billion in unanticipated tax revenues. The decision to slightly modify the checks was a rare aberration for Hochul, who has resisted calls to scale back spending when shaping the now $254 billion state budget as federal cuts loom. Fiscal watchdogs like the Citizens Budget Commission, the Fiscal Policy Institute and Empire Center all slammed Hochul for ignoring those pending cuts in her budget agreement. Her decision to celebrate the refund checks today comes as D.C.'s Grim Reaper is already knocking on Albany's door. Empire Center noted today that the federal government is planning renege on its agreement to send New York about $3.7 billion over the next two years through a convoluted federal Medicaid matching process associated with the tax on managed care organizations. If that happens, it could require lawmakers and the governor to rework the budget for this fiscal year, which plans to spend $1.47 billion out of the agreement. 'While we won't speculate about the specific impacts of policy changes that are still in draft form, Republicans in Washington have made it clear that they're hell-bent on tearing apart the social safety net that millions of New Yorkers rely on to make ends meet,' Tim Ruffinen, a spokesperson for Hochul's budget director, said in a response to the pending MCO tax change. 'They're targeting critical, life-saving programs like Medicaid and food stamps — and everyday Americans are the ones who will get hurt.' — Jason Beeferman From the Capitol MAKE ALBANY HEALTHY AGAIN: The most visible lobbying effort in the first week of Albany's post-budget session came from advocates sure to face an uphill battle in the Democratic-dominated Legislature — critics of vaccines and supporters of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. About 100 people came to the Capitol today, including Naomi Wolf and members of MAHA Action and Children's Health Defense. They were joined by a four-piece band that filled the underground complex with chants of 'Make America Healthy Again' for several hours. Michael Kane, an organizer for the Kennedy-founded Children's Health Defense, encouraged them to tell every legislator 'why you were fired from your job, why your kid got kicked out of school, or your kid got injured from a shot.' The MAHA activists support five bills, including measures to make New York City rehire any employees fired for refusing the Covid vaccine and one to end the religious exemption for school vaccine mandates. They're attempting to defeat state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal's Registry For Keeping Justified Records Act. That 'RFKJR' bill would mandate that adult vaccination records be kept in a state database. — Bill Mahoney FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL I AM INEVITABLE: Team Cuomo happily trumpeted today's Marist College poll that showed the former governor holding a sustained lead in the Democratic mayoral primary. 'Despite multiple opponents' daily attacks, polling continues to reflect that the VOTERS still want Andrew Cuomo to be Mayor,' wrote Cuomo campaign political director Shontell Smith on X. 'Oh and Happy Wednesday!' The ex-governor's campaign has eagerly stoked the view his victory is a foregone conclusion. And it's one Hochul — who distanced herself from Cuomo when she took office following his scandal-induced resignation — has also bought into. Hochul agreed when asked today if she believes her predecessor's victory in the June 24 primary is 'inevitable.' 'The polls certainly indicate that at this point in time,' she said. 'Regardless, I've said it's my responsibility as the governor to work with whomever the voters want as their leader.' The Marist poll found Cuomo winning a ranked-choice voting simulation after five rounds — reaching 53 percent to Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani's 29 percent. City Comptroller Brad Lander finished third in the polled simulation with 18 percent. The ranked-choice results don't factor in undecideds, though, and the survey of 3,383 likely Democratic voters found 17 percent haven't made up their minds yet. That's giving hope to Cuomo's opponents, including City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who placed third in round one. She got in the race late and has yet to qualify for public matching funds or air TV ads, but her campaign said the poll was an encouraging one. 'There's a clear reason why support for Adrienne has doubled without burning through millions of dollars — New Yorkers finally see a candidate in it for us,' said Missayr Booker, a senior adviser for Adrienne Adams. Where will the undecided voters go and — more importantly — can they make a difference in the race? Marist pollster Lee Miringoff told Playbook that Cuomo is on a clear trajectory to win. 'He does have a substantial enough lead that, assuming he gets a chunk of those undecideds at the end, he wins,' he said. 'If he's shut out, it does get a bit dicier.' — Nick Reisman STAND UP GUY: Public Advocate Jumaane Williams took a subtle shot at his opponent Jenifer Rajkumar's penchant for standing behind Mayor Eric Adams in his first TV ad of his reelection campaign. 'I'll always stand with the people,' Williams says in the ad, smirking as he gestures to the crowd around him. He then pledges to 'Stand up. Not just stand by.' He'll spend $250,000 on placing the ad on cable and streaming ahead of the Democratic primary, City & State first reported. Rajkumar, a Queens assemblymember, appeared with Adams more than 150 times since he took office, Playbook reported, though she's been keeping her distance lately. She missed Adams' press conference on closing illegal cannabis shops today, even though that's an issue she championed and the event was near her district. Rajkumar's campaign shot back at Williams, noting that the crowd in his ad features government staff and lobbyists, not 'real New Yorkers.' 'It's no shock that Jumaane's ad doesn't list a single thing he has actually delivered for New Yorkers. Thanks to his no-show tenure, the Public Advocate's office has reverted to an empty political stepping stone,' Rajkumar spokesperson Arvind Sooknanan added. — Jeff Coltin 'STILL EARLY' IN MAYORAL RACE: Former New York City Comptroller Bill Thompson was in the Capitol today to work on 'a couple of projects.' Thompson knows as much about New York City mayoral primaries as anybody — he won the 2009 contest and finished second to Bill de Blasio in 2013 — and said this year's race is 'still as crazy as it sounds.' 'Clearly, former Gov. Cuomo is doing well. But then again, you're going to start to see lots of movement, so we'll see,' Thompson said. 'Everybody has to start to spend money — it's still early.' Thompson, who currently chairs CUNY's Board of Trustees, isn't endorsing in the race. — Bill Mahoney From City Hall SNAP DECISION: Lander warned at a briefing today that proposed cuts to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which more than 2 million New York City residents use to buy food, would punch a multibillion dollar hole in New York's budget. The Congressional Budget Office recently estimated that SNAP cuts proposed in House Republicans' reconciliation bill would save $300 billion. That windfall would come by forcing states to cover between 5 percent to 25 percent of SNAP costs. During his presentation, Lander predicted New York would be forced to pay at the high end of the spectrum and pegged the fiscal fallout at between $366 million to $1.8 billion annually — a sum that could lead officials to tighten eligibility instead. 'This budget hurts millions of people fighting to remain in this increasingly unaffordable city,' he said in a statement. 'Draconian figures like Trump have tried to gut our social safety net before, but hardworking New Yorkers and their families will remember every time they visit a hospital or go to bed hungry.' — Joe Anuta IN OTHER NEWS — DE BLASIO MUST PAY: Former mayor Bill de Blasio agreed to pay $319,000 for bringing a taxpayer-funded police detail along with him during his short-lived 2019 presidential campaign. (THE CITY) — DOCTORS WITHOUT DISCIPLINE: The state failed to discipline dozens of doctors after months or years of misconduct. (Newsday) — CUTS, COSTS AND TARIFFS: New York food banks are bracing for a trifecta of bad news. (New York Focus) Missed this morning's New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
Politico
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
The Trump ally seeking swing voters
Presented by Solving Hunger TOO MAGA FOR LI?: Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has President Donald Trump on his side — and a unique precedent working against him — as he seeks reelection this year on Long Island. Blakeman is 'MAGA all the way,' Trump lauded on Truth Social last week as he endorsed the first-term Republican. But an eight-election voting pattern foreshadows that Blakeman could be out because his fellow Republican is in the White House. Since 1992, Nassau's swing voters have ushered in county executives who represent the party opposite the president, as detailed by Newsday today and as Blakeman's rival Seth Koslow reminded Playbook. This fall's race between Blakeman and Koslow, a Democratic Nassau County legislator, is shaping up to be competitive in the suburban stretch where Democratic voters outnumber Republicans by about 800,000 and where Trump won last year by 30,000 votes. 'He strapped himself to him like an anchor, and he's going to go down with the ship,' said Koslow, who's been hammering Blakeman for his allegiance to the president. Blakeman pushed back, telling Playbook, 'Nassau County voters are very smart and sophisticated, and they understand having a county executive that has a good relationship with the president of the United States is a good thing for their county.' The county executive has waved away questions about whether he'll run for governor — a post that Reps. Elise Stefanik and Mike Lawler are also eyeing — but he has yet to rule it out. His more immediate task is to win a second term. Blakeman has raised his profile among national Republicans by banning face masks, barring transgender athletes from competing in women's sports and planning to arm civilians to help law enforcement. He has also deputized local police to assist federal immigration agents. He was at the White House last month for Trump's 'Liberation Day' announcement on sweeping global tariffs. But Blakeman cited decidedly nonpartisan priorities to make his case for a second term: 'cutting taxes my first year by $150 million, not raising taxes at all during my tenure as county executive, being awarded the safest county in America.' Koslow is among the Nassau County Democratic legislators who sued Blakeman over his armed citizen deputy initiative. He's also hit the incumbent for his pageantry, inviting lawsuits that cost taxpayers money to defend him and increasing fees for county services. As of January, their most recently available campaign finance disclosures, Blakeman had an overwhelming advantage with $1.7 million on hand to Koslow's $102,000. A Koslow campaign spokesperson noted he launched his bid in January and said the support and checks have been pouring in since. — Emily Ngo From the Capitol LIGHTS, CAMERA, BUDGET: Gov. Kathy Hochul's $254 billion budget expanded New York's film tax credit program days after Trump announced he's weighing tariffs for foreign movies. The state will hike the total subsidies from $700 million to $800 million in annual tax credits and extend the life of the incentive program by two years, from 2034 to 2036. Hochul also won approval of a $100 million tax credit pool for independent movie productions. The governor proposed the changes at the start of the year — months before Trump mused about placing tariffs on overseas movies. Hochul raised concerns the president's film tariff would hurt New York's entertainment sector with retaliatory actions. 'I'm fighting hard for this industry in New York state, it's an economic driver, it's part of our identity,' she told CNN last week. 'The talent wants to be in New York. I'm in competition with other states and indeed other countries.' Subsidizing Hollywood productions has come under withering critique by watchdog groups, who have questioned taxpayers' return on investment. 'This is a truly unconscionable waste of public funds,' said Reinvent Albany Executive Director John Kaehny. 'Pay them to make a movie and the public gets what?' — Nick Reisman HUDSON YARDS CASINO DOUBTED BY OWN BIDDER: The CEO of Wynn Resorts — the gaming conglomerate partnering with Related Companies for a proposed Hudson Yards casino — is already hedging about its own bid. 'We continue to be in the running in New York, but we absolutely will not get over our skis to win the license there,' Craig Billings the CEO of Wynn Resorts said in an earnings call last week. He also lamented the challenges of winning and building a New York casino during the call. 'It's also a complicated market with a lot of considerations. … And we also need to consider the potential impact of tariffs on build costs,' he said. 'So and then pile on top of that the fact that the local politics are complicated.' The Hudson Yards casino proposal suffered a symbolic setback in January when its local community board voted to reject necessary land use changes along with the Manhattan borough president, who also rejected the plan in a separate move. The zoning proposal attached to the casino is now up for review by the City Council, which has to make a decision by early June. — Jason Beeferman FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL CUOMO LOSES OUT: New York City campaign finance regulators withheld more than $600,000 in public funds from Andrew Cuomo's mayoral campaign today, saying they suspect him of illegally coordinating with a super PAC supporting his bid. The super PAC, Fix the City, spent $622,056 on a TV ad that the board 'has reason to believe' was not created independently of the Cuomo campaign, based on a preliminary investigation. That investigation is ongoing, the board said in a statement released at its meeting. At issue was the webpage on Cuomo's campaign site laying out specific messaging and strategy that could be used by a super PAC, POLITICO first reported. The board warned candidates last week that it passed new, stricter rules against the practice last year. Cuomo's campaign, and the super PAC, both denied wrongdoing. The board approved payment of more than $1.5 million to Cuomo on Monday after his campaign fixed the paperwork issues that led to him getting denied funds last month. But it has warned that campaigns found to be coordinating with super PACs could be ineligible for public funds and made to repay money already received. — Jeff Coltin LIU FOR LEVINE: State Sen. John Liu is endorsing Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine over City Council Finance Chair Justin Brannan in the race for city comptroller, Playbook has learned. 'I know firsthand what it takes to be an effective Comptroller — and Mark Levine has the experience, integrity, and vision New Yorkers deserve in this role,' Liu said in a statement. 'Mark leads with innovation, and he's never shied away from tough fights.' Liu is the second former city comptroller to back Levine; Liz Holtzman, the city's fiscal watchdog in the early 1990s, endorsed Levine in April. 'I'm incredibly honored to have the endorsement of John Liu: a trailblazer, a champion for working families, and a true public servant,' Levine said. 'His leadership as Comptroller and as a Senator has raised the bar for what bold, effective city leadership should look like.' — Jason Beeferman CUOMO AND E-BIKES: DoorDash's $1 million contribution to a pro-Cuomo super PAC came two months after the mayoral candidate proposed cracking down on e-bikes and mopeds — while also holding delivery apps responsible for reckless drivers. Delivery companies rely on those types of transportation. The company previously reported spending $500,000 to lobby on a measure allowing delivery platforms to charge higher fees. DoorDash this year signaled it would contribute to 'pro-local economy' candidates in the city. A company rep told POLITICO on Sunday that the donation — the largest so far in the mayoral race — is for supporting leaders like Cuomo 'who prioritize practical, pro-local economy solutions that encourage growth and innovation.' The ex-governor's public safety platform released in March includes provisions meant to crack down on reckless e-bike usage through registering and licensing the conveyances by the NYC Department of Transportation. His campaign said e-bike safety problems stem from 'structural problems in the food delivery business' that incentivize speed and should be held financially liable for crashes. For food delivery firms like DoorDash, shaping such a policy and any legislation could be a priority if Cuomo becomes mayor. — Nick Reisman IN OTHER NEWS — NOT IN THEIR BACKYARD: Cuomo is pledging if elected mayor to stop development of a homeless shelter in southern Brooklyn that's drawn intense pushback from local residents, including City Council Member Susan Zhuang. (Daily News) — YOU'RE REHIRED: Some of the correction officers fired during the three-week wildcat strike could be rehired, despite Hochul's statements saying that would not happen. (NNY 360) — AIRB-N-BANNED: The city filed a lawsuit today against a Greenwich Village Airbnb, putting new restrictions on short-term rentals to the test. (The New York Times). Missed this morning's New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
Politico
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Politico
NY Republicans' fork in the road
Presented by Solving Hunger TO MAGA OR NOT TO MAGA, THAT IS THE QUESTION: New York Republicans are approaching a fork in the road. President Donald Trump's first three weeks in office for the New York political world have been marked by Mayor Eric Adams' liberation from corruption charges, the looming threat of a congestion pricing shutdown and a push to freeze hundreds of billions of dollars in federal aid. And that's not all. A MAGA-motivated wedge is forming between two Republicans eyeing a run for governor next year: Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Hudson Valley Rep. Mike Lawler. 'Whoever runs for governor on the Republican and conservative lines, my advice to them would be to run to President Trump, and not away from him,' Blakeman told Playbook. 'Certainly our base, he has our full support, and independent voters are swinging his way, and common sense Democrats are swinging his way. My thought process is whoever runs for governor on the Republican and conservative lines in New York State would be wise to embrace President Trump.' While Blakeman has continuously courted the president's praise, Lawler — the outspoken, overachieving congress member who is some 30 years Blakeman's junior — is trying to toe the line on Trump. It's a formula that continues to deliver for Lawler, who handily defeated his Democratic challenger last year in a district that has voted decisively blue in previous presidential elections. Neither have formally announced a bid for next year's race, and while Lawler is openly considering it, Blakeman says he's focused on his own reelection. Republicans who spoke with Playbook say Trump will play a key role in the primary for governor next year. 'They are talking to us to find out how we feel about the role the president is playing and how they can assist us, and in turn they do express where the president is when it is necessary to do that,' Gerard Kassar, chair of the state Conservative Party, said of the White House. 'I do think the president is going to have an interest in what's going on in New York, and I think he will have a strong interest in what we do on not only governor, but also on attorney general.' Blakeman said he anticipates Trump to be 'very focused on New York … because of his love for this state.' 'I think he will be involved in all parts of processes politically here in the state,' he added. Last week, the Nassau County executive deputized his police force to help carry out Trump's deportation plan, a policy Blakeman says makes Nassau 'the first county in the United States to do such a comprehensive cooperative agreement with ICE.' The move only raises Blakeman's MAGA cred. He already invited Trump to Long Island last year for a massive campaign rally, was floated as a Trump cabinet pick and is in regular touch with the president. Meanwhile, Lawler — who has avoided criticizing Trump outright — continues to lean into his much-touted rating as one of congress' most bipartisan members, an identity he's cultivated since the beginning of his political career in the state Legislature. In 2022, he told the New York Post he wanted to see his party 'move forward' from Trump. One year later, then-President Joe Biden said 'he's not one of these MAGA Republicans' at an event in Westchester. But he will increasingly have to contend with answering for Trump policies as the governor's election nears. The oft-quoted Lawler declined an interview on this topic, instead sending Playbook a lengthy statement. 'Congressman Lawler has been a stalwart fighter for conservative solutions in Congress, but that doesn't mean you don't work in a bipartisan way to get commonsense stuff done. From securing the border and fighting antisemitism to repealing congestion pricing and lifting the cap on SALT, Congressman Lawler is pushing for commonsense, conservative wins for New Yorkers by working with both parties to get them done,' his spokesperson Chris Russell said. 'The Congressman has also forged a strong relationship with President Trump, for whom he was a delegate at the 2016 Convention, who appreciates Mike's deal-making ability. Mike will continue to help implement the President's commonsense border and economic policies to make New York safer and more prosperous. Walking and chewing gum at the same time is a necessary quality for any Governor of New York State – and Mike does just that.' — Jason Beeferman From City Hall ADAMS MEETS WITH HOMAN: With a newfound leverage over New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Trump border czar Tom Homan hosted the big-city Democrat on Thursday to discuss ramped up immigration enforcement in the nation's largest city. The meeting came hours before the interim U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Danielle Sassoon, resigned after getting an order from Trump's Justice Department to drop Adams' corruption charges. The news was first reported by The New York Times. One key caveat to the DOJ order is that it would allow the feds to reintroduce charges against Adams after the mayoral election. The mayor's sitdown with Homan is the first mile marker in a new and precarious era in Adams' political career. With each nudge toward more deportations from Trump officials — who hold the fate of the mayor's criminal case in their hands — Adams gets farther from his Democratic political base as he seeks reelection in June. Adams arrived at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Lower Manhattan earlier today for his second meeting with Homan, who recently expressed dissatisfaction with the mayor's delivery on promises from their first confab. That sentiment was confirmed by a group of New York City Council members who convened with the border czar immediately beforehand. '[Homan] said that he's going to hold the mayor responsible for things he said [during] the last meeting they had that he didn't deliver on,' Council Member Robert Holden said at a press briefing outside the federal building, adding that Homan said there would be consequences if the mayor did not comply. — Joe Anuta FROM THE DELEGATION JEFFRIES' TONE SHIFT: Rep. Hakeem Jeffries' responses to Adams' legal entanglements have ranged from muted to lackluster to dismissive, but the House minority leader turned up the temperature today. The Trump Department of Justice has ordered that Adams' fraud charges be dropped 'without prejudice,' which Jeffries and others have interpreted to mean the charges technically remain active. 'Translation: It is the intention of the Trump administration to keep the current mayor on a short leash,' Jeffries told reporters today in Washington. 'How the mayor responds to the White House's intentions is going to determine a lot about the political future of the current mayor of the city of New York.' The mayor's case, as of today, had yet to be dismissed. The minority leader, who like Adams is a Brooklyn Democrat, has in the past responded to reporters by saying the mayor is entitled to due process and that voters will decide this year if he should be reelected. — Emily Ngo From the Capitol NAS COMES TO CAUCUS WEEKEND: Thousands of politicos are coming to Albany Friday to attend the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislators' caucus weekend — an annual event that draws all sorts of players from New York's political world to talk politics and policies affecting those groups. This year's conference — the 54th — will be attended by at least 8,500 and will include a Sunday night concert from Nas, a Saturday night show from Wyclef Jean and a keynote speech from MSNBC host Joy Ann Reid. Over 75 panels and workshops will be held on everything from pay equity to mental health. The theme of this year's caucus will be 'Being Bold' and will showcase the budget priorities of the legislative caucus, which has grown to 80 members this year, the largest ever. The events will also raise scholarship money for young people of color around the state, and this year the association was able to give out more than $140,000 from last year's proceeds. 'We are gathering as a community so that we can begin to really do the work and build real coalitions with all of these industries because a lot of our communities are under attack,' said Tara L. Martin, communications director for the New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislators, Inc. 'Our job right now is to protect those and be a voice for the voiceless.' — Jason Beeferman CLIMATE COLLISION: Environmental activists disrupted the normally staid proceedings of the state's Public Service Commission three times Thursday. It wasn't a rate hike they were protesting, but the decision by Gov. Kathy Hochul's Department of Environmental Conservation to approve a pipeline project. The long-awaited decision was a significant test for Hochul on the state's climate law. It's the first major decision acknowledging that the state's approval will lead to increased emissions while addressing reliability concerns. 'There's no reason for it. It's environmentally damaging and it goes against' the state's climate law, said Bill Kish, a Dutchess County resident who attended the commission meeting. 'I realize you can override that act, however that's no excuse for you and the governor to build new gas infrastructure right now.' The Department of Environmental Conservation issued air permits for the Iroquois Enhancement by Compression, or 'ExC,' project last week. The project involves upgrades to two compressor stations in New York that will increase pressure and thus the flow of natural gas on the already existing Iroquois pipeline. Environmental advocates opposed the project, arguing it flies in the face of the state's efforts to slash emissions in compliance with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. But the state's Department of Public Service said it's needed to ensure reliable gas service downstate on the coldest winter days. Even though emissions will increase, the reliability needs justify approving the project, DEC's decision states. The two compressor stations that will get additional horsepower are located in Dover and Athens. The one in Athens is located in a 'disadvantaged community,' triggering added scrutiny under New York's climate law. National Grid relied on the project as part of its long-term planning, which is required after the gas hookup moratorium debacle on Long Island and in parts of New York City. During the commission meeting, the protestors moved toward the dias where commissioners sit at the front of the room. Stanchions separating the public from the commissioners were knocked over. Department staff stood up to physically block the protesters. State troopers on the scene ordered advocates to leave if they did not want to be arrested. PSC Chair Rory Christian told the protestors he would speak to them but not during the meeting. Read the full report by Marie J. French in POLITICO Pro ON THE HOUSING BEAT SUPPORT FOR FAITH-BASED HOUSING: A new poll shared first with Playbook shows the vast majority of New Yorkers are in support of a proposal to enable churches, synagogues and other religious institutions to build affordable housing on their land. The poll, which was conducted by Global Strategy Group and queried 600 likely voters, found that 74 percent of New Yorkers and 78 percent of city residents support the measure. Even after respondents were presented with arguments against the bill, about 70 percent of voters still backed it. 'This data is clear: New Yorkers across the state overwhelmingly support the Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act,' said Annie Norbitz, vice president of research at the polling firm. 'The arguments that have been made against the bill are simply not persuasive.' The survey found over 70 percent of New Yorkers have friends or family who left New York due to high housing costs. The legislation being considered is sponsored by state Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Brian Cunningham. It was also floated last year but never made it into the final housing deal. Currently, faith-based organizations need to go through 'a lot of hoops and hurdles' to build housing on their land, creating a disincentive for the orgs, Gounardes said. Churches, synagogues, mosques and other organizations own over 92 million square feet of land in New York City alone — more than twice the amount owned by city hospitals and healthcare facilities, according to NYU's Furman Center. Proponents of the bill say it would create about 60,000 more homes over the next decade. 'For many of these institutions, housing is part of their ministry,' Gounardes said. 'They're serving the broader good, serving the broader community, and providing affordable housing fits well within that mission.' — Jason Beeferman STEELY DON: Democratic state lawmakers are worried plans for expanding affordable housing could be dashed because of President Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs. Assembly Housing Chair Linda Rosenthal today said the decision to impose tariffs on common construction materials would hamper the ability to build — making the affordability crisis worse. 'The state Legislature crafted an ambitious plan to make housing more affordable for New Yorkers last year,' she said. 'However, those affordability plans are now at risk because of Donald Trump's ego and a Republican party that grants his every wish.' Trump has insisted the tariffs are meant to make the U.S. more competitive on the world economic stage. 'It's a big deal,' Trump said this week. 'This is the beginning of making America rich again.' — Nick Reisman IN OTHER NEWS... — SASSOON'S RESIGNATION: The departure of the SDNY's interim U.S. attorney also led to two resignations within the Justice Department's public integrity unit. (The New York Times) — BILL DE BLASIO'S NEW GF: The former mayor announced his new relationship with progressive pundit Nomiki Konst just in time for Valentine's Day. (New York Post) — HELL-NOTEL: Weihong Hu, a hotelier with close ties to Adams, stole tens of millions from a temporary housing program, according to federal prosecutors. (THE CITY) — AIRPORT UPGRADE: Hochul announced Wednesday the state is committing $150 million for improvements to Long Island's MacArthur Airport and a connection to the LIRR. (Trains Magazine) Missed this morning's New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
Politico
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Hochul goes soft on Adams
Presented by Solving Hunger CHARGES SCRUBBED, AND THE GOV? SHE SHRUGS.: Gov. Kathy Hochul is playing Mrs. Nice Guy as Democrats around the city erupt in rage over the order from President Donald Trump's Department of Justice to drop Mayor Eric Adams' corruption charges. From her midtown Manhattan office, the governor spent 18 minutes answering questions from reporters, where she largely shied away from criticizing the indicted mayor and said she will continue to 'establish a relationship of working together' with the federal government. She also kept the door shut on removing the mayor from office — a power she once hinted at using under the rules of the City Charter — signaling the bombshell move from Trump's DOJ will have little to no impact on her public relationship with Adams. With the governor's posture on display from midtown, Adams' allies in Albany rushed to defend him. 'We hope to move on from what seemed to have been a politically motivated case and allow the mayor to keep delivering for the people of New York,' said Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the Brooklyn Democratic Party chair. 'I'm very happy for the mayor, especially as a friend and a colleague, that he's been cleared from this,' Brooklyn state Sen. Kevin Parker told Playbook. Even former Mayor Bill de Blasio emerged to defend his successor: 'I actually think the charges were not strong enough; they were affecting the democratic process in New York City,' he told MSNBC. But the mayor faces skepticism from one key ally. Rev. Al Sharpton, who remains influential among the mayor's base of Black voters who has generally avoided criticizing Adams, said the new DOJ order indicates 'we have clearly crossed a rubicon.' 'It certainly sounds like President Trump is holding the Mayor hostage,' he wrote in a statement. 'That is simply not fair to the City of New York. I have spoken to several elected officials and clergy, whom I convened early in the Mayor's term, to meet between now and the weekend to decide where we will go.' Adams issued a video streamed statement from City Hall today where he recycled much of what he has already said about the now-pending case — and set the stage for the next four months where he will run for reelection in the Democratic primary. 'I thank the Justice Department for its honesty,' Adams said, free from the presence of reporters who normally pepper him with questions during regularly scheduled Tuesday briefings. 'Now we can put this cruel episode behind us and focus entirely on the future of our city. … I also understand that many New Yorkers still question my character, and I know that I must continue to regain your trust.' The governor was unwilling to focus on the developments in the mayor's case. 'I've got a job to do,' Hochul said when asked about the revelation. 'I've got to worry about people catching bird flu, okay? I'm more anxious about steel and aluminum tariffs cutting down factories in the state of New York and 1000 jobs.' 'My objective is not who's sitting in that office and what's going on there,' she added. 'It's about what's happening on the streets. Are people being served? And that is always going to be my primary motivation.' — Jason Beeferman FROM THE TOLL ZONE A BUSINESS, MAN: New York City's private-sector boosters want to persuade its most famous businessperson to keep the congestion pricing toll program, POLITICO reports. President Donald Trump wants to kill the $9 toll for entering Manhattan below 60th Street, but has been negotiating with Gov. Kathy Hochul over the program's future. Business leaders like Partnership for New York City CEO Kathy Wylde are trying to mount an influence campaign to either box him in or encourage him to strike a deal. 'I'm glad some folks in the business community who have a different relationship to Donald Trump than I do are reaching out to say, 'You like a deal, this is a great deal. Don't fuck it up,'' said Brad Lander, the New York City comptroller and left-leaning Democratic candidate for mayor. The argument could be a powerful counterweight to arguments that the tolls have hurt working-class people. And business leaders can provide an alternative form of validation and appeal to his business sense better than the left-flank mass transit leaders and politicians who support the tolls. — Ry Rivard and Nick Reisman FROM THE CAPITOL A VERY SPECIAL ELECTION: Hochul distanced herself from a bill that would have enabled her to schedule special elections in November and blamed Republicans for 'hyperbolic' opposition. State lawmakers initially planned to pass the measure on Monday at the urging of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, ahead of an expected special election to fill Rep. Elise Stefanik's seat. If approved, Stefanik's deep red district would remain vacant for most of the year if she's approved as Trump's United Nations ambassador. That would likely deny Republicans a House vote in the closely divided chamber. The Democratic governor gave little clarity for why she asked legislators to not pass the bill on Monday. She also took an extraordinarily narrow view of her own institutional power. 'I don't introduce bills,' Hochul told reporters during an unrelated Manhattan news conference. 'That's not the role of the governor.' (The governor can, and does, introduce program bills with a legislative sponsor.) The bill was vehemently opposed by GOP officials who called for a federal racketeering investigation of the Democrats. Hochul insisted she tuned out the criticism, but indicated the barbs registered. 'A lot of this is generated by the Republicans,' she said. 'They have a press conference every time I sneeze.' State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins told reporters in Albany the bill wasn't dead, but simply on hold. The talks over the bill began with Hochul, she added. 'If she's interested in holding it, that's fine,' Stewart-Cousins said. — Nick Reisman ABOUT THOSE SPECIAL ELECTIONS …: Hochul says she wishes the special election that launched her career into politics never happened — and instead occurred in the general election. 'That was an awfully short time frame to have to run an election in seven counties,' she told reporters today. 'More time is very helpful for voters to get to know someone. I was known in one county out of seven.' In 2011, Hochul, then the Erie County Clerk, snagged a surprise victory in a special election to fill a Buffalo area congressional seat. A year and a half later she lost reelection in a general election, after her district was redrawn. She went on to serve as Lieutenant Governor and now governor. — Jason Beeferman HOCHUL SLAMS CON ED: Continuing her affordability crusade, Gov. Kathy Hochul is pulling out a time-honored political playbook: bash the utility. Hochul called Con Ed's proposed rate increase 'unconscionable' on Tuesday and urged the state's top utility regulator to reject it. The utility proposed an increase of more than 10 percent for gas and electric customers last month. 'This is a real hit on families. They didn't budget for this. They weren't planning for this and these bills are going up, upwards of $500 a year,' Hochul said at a press conference Tuesday. 'This is intolerable to me.' The governor signed a letter to Department of Public Service CEO and Public Service Commission Chair Rory Christian urging the rejection of the rate hike proposal at an event in New York City. Christian, who was appearing in front of lawmakers in Albany at the time, shrugged when asked whether he'd gotten a heads up about the letter. 'Our rate case processes are based on long-established best practices. Regulation evolves over time and we've been reviewing opportunities for adding additional levels of scrutiny,' Christian said. 'Given the significance of this rate case, we will apply the due diligence that we always do and ensure we're using the most up-to-date information and analysis to arrive at a just and reasonable result.' Con Ed spokesperson Jamie McShane said the utility is 'acutely aware' of affordability concerns and pointed to existing energy efficiency and assistance programs funded by ratepayers. The utility has 'a responsibility to continue to safely and efficiently deliver the nation's most reliable power while complying with state laws and regulations,' he said in a statement. 'That means fortifying the grid in the face of increasingly severe extreme weather, bringing renewable energy sources online to help meet the state's clean power goals, and supporting the workforce we need to conduct ongoing maintenance and swiftly respond to customer service calls.' — Marie J. French IN OTHER NEWS — SPOTTED: NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch visited the Capitol to lobby for changes to discovery laws today — following Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's Monday appearance. It's her first visit to Albany while leading the police force. — HOCHUL WANTS CDPAP PROBE: The governor's administration wants to investigate the nonprofits who have spent $10 million on negative ads attacking her changes to the homecare industry. (Gothamist) — NY'S FED WORKERS REACT: The state's 53,000 civilian federal employees are confused, frustrated and potentially furloughed under a new Trump administration. (Spectrum News) — NEW RENT REG BILL: State Democrats introduced a bill that would allow more upstate communities to opt into the city's rent stabilization program. (Times Union) Missed this morning's New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
