| | | | | |  | | By Erin Durkin and Anna Gronewold with Jonathan Custodio | Presented by American Land Title Association | Joe Biden is the next president, and New York's leaders are breathing a sigh of relief. So are many New Yorkers: celebrations broke out as soon as the race was called on Saturday, with neighbors clapping and cheering out their windows, honking horns, and then taking to the streets for impromptu parties around the city. Both Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio have been banking on a Biden win to stave off financial catastrophe and mount a comeback from the coronavirus crisis, and neither one has much of a plan B . The two men will be quickly beating down the new president's door seeking a multibillion aid package that allows them to avoid massive layoffs and deep cuts to education and other services. "With a Biden victory, we know there will be a state-and-local package, which will go a long way toward handling New York's economic problem," Cuomo said on WAMC radio. "If Trump had won, we would be in really deep." It won't be quite that easy, of course — especially if Republicans and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell retain control of the Senate. But where a Trump win would likely have doomed New York to an indefinite limbo, Biden's success puts the state in position to get more than nothing. It helps that Biden and Cuomo are friends and longtime political allies of the president-elect, as Anna and our Bill Mahoney report: Cuomo has a deep personal rapport with Biden, much more than with any other Democratic presidential candidate in recent years, and the president-elect thinks highly enough of the governor that he once compared him to Abraham Lincoln. Also on the line is the future of the MTA, which has warned that draconian cuts are coming to subway service unless the federal government comes through with a bailout in the face of the agency's $10.3 billion deficit. And the Democratic administration (and one led by an Amtrak devotee at that) is likely to boost other major projects that stalled under Trump, our Danielle Muoio and Samatha Maldonado report — including the Gateway Project, a massive effort to repair the Northeast Corridor's dilapidated tunnels, and New York's plan to impose congestion pricing in the core of Manhattan. And New York can count on a respite from the war Trump has waged on his one-time hometown on multiple fronts: trying to strip the city's funds for being a "sanctuary city," and more recently an alleged "anarchist jurisdiction." As far as New York's leading Democrats are concerned, the "long two months" can't go by quickly enough. IT'S MONDAY. Got tips, suggestions or thoughts? Let us know ... By email: EDurkin@politico.com and agronewold@politico.com, or on Twitter: @erinmdurkin and @annagronewold WHERE'S ANDREW? In Albany with no public events scheduled. WHERE'S BILL? Holding a media availability and a roundtable discussion with community and ethnic media, and appearing on NY1's Inside City Hall. | | A message from American Land Title Association: While the work of land title professionals is behind-the-scenes, and they may sometimes go unseen, the joy from what they do can be seen on the smiling faces of millions of Americans when they finally get the title of "homeowner." Land title professionals have safeguarded the American dream for more than 125 years. Meet the people who help protect homebuyers and sellers when they make the most important financial decision of their lives. Learn more | | |
|  | WHAT CITY HALL'S READING | | HUNDREDS OF SUPPORTERS filled the street outside Bill de Blasio's Park Slope row house in January of 2012 to witness him launch a long-shot bid to become New York City's 109th mayor. By contrast, two candidates looking to succeed him next year, Scott Stringer and Maya Wiley, announced their campaigns at relatively muted affairs. They each gathered just a few dozen supporters who sat several feet apart, their faces and cheers obscured by masks. With the presidential election drawing to a close, New York City voters will soon turn their attention to replacing de Blasio, whose term ends on Dec. 31, 2021. It will be a contest unlike any other in city history, featuring a crowded field of contestants who must consider both the growing progressive wing of the Democratic Party and a creeping unease over safety, the economy and quality-of-life matters in a city transformed by the ongoing pandemic. POLITICO's Sally Goldenberg — Wiley is launching a series of online forums titled "People's Assemblies," which will run from Nov. 16 through Dec. 15 and will provide voters a chance to interact with her on issues. — Special elections are coming for five City Council seats — three held by incumbents who won other offices on Tuesday, one who resigned for a state job and one who was ejected. "GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO said Friday that he would relax coronavirus restrictions in parts of Brooklyn and lift them entirely in Far Rockaway, Queens, after ordering a tiered shutdown in those areas more than a month ago. So-called 'red zones' in South Brooklyn where non-essential businesses and schools were forced to close will now be reduced in size by 50% as will the borough's 'yellow zones,' which had no closures but saw increased restrictions on gatherings in houses of worship and public places. A map of the new zones can be accessed here. Last week, the governor said all closed schools in the state's designated hotspots could reopen as long as they meet new testing rules, but Mayor Bill de Blasio has said he wanted to wait to see if the state lifted any restrictions." Gothamist's Elizabeth Kim and Jake Dobkin "THE NUMBER OF people admitted to New York City hospitals for coronavirus infections rose by more than 62% last month, a sign that transmission is worsening and making some people severely ill. In October, there were 1,461 total hospitalizations due to COVID-19, up from around 900 the prior month, according to the city's latest health data. Over the last month, the number of new people hospitalized for coronavirus each day has fluctuated from anywhere between 30 to 70. The pattern is consistent with that of the Northeast and much of the country, where the spread of the virus is once again accelerating, driven by what experts say is more people spending more time indoors due to colder weather. Statewide, the seven-day average for coronavirus hospitalizations is around 1,300, the highest it has been since mid-June." Gothamist's Elizabeth Kim and Jake Dobkin — "New York City's average test positivity rate for COVID-19 has risen above 2%, the highest it has been in more than four months, according to the latest Health Department data. The metric meets the threshold at which Mayor Bill de Blasio said he would 'reassess' indoor dining. As of Saturday, the city's coronavirus milestone data website was reporting a seven-day average positivity of 2.12%." — The city reported 702 new cases on Friday and has been over its 550 threshold at least nine times since late October. MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO said Friday "what you see in front of your eyes is not always the full story" in response to complaints about aggressive policing of post-election protests in the city. | | | | TRACK THE TRANSITION, SUBSCRIBE TO TRANSITION PLAYBOOK: The definitive guide to what could be one of the most consequential transfers of power in American history. Our Transition Playbook newsletter—written for political insiders—tracks the appointments, people, and power centers of the new administration. Don't miss out. Subscribe today. | | | | |
| | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | "GOV. ANDREW CUOMO indicated Friday that coronavirus restrictions could be coming to parts of Erie, Monroe and Onondaga counties as the areas have seen an upturn recently in coronavirus metrics. Many details remain unknown, but the Democrat said Friday that the state would be studying the areas and talking to elected officials over the weekend. 'At these numbers and in these areas, a microcluster response is appropriate,' Cuomo said on a call with reporters Friday. 'We tailor the microcluster strategy to the particulars of that area and therefore we want to have conversations over the weekend.' The third-term governor indicated there would be more information on Monday." Law Journal's Ryan Tarinelli — "New York's positive-test rate for COVID-19 hit 2.35 percent Saturday — the state's highest level in more than five months." "NATIONAL GUARD troops will be deployed to New York airports to make sure arriving travelers have proof of recently testing negative for COVID-19, Gov. Cuomo said Friday. The deployment follows a sweeping new entry test policy announced a week ago after the Empire State abandoned its travel advisory that mandated travelers from coronavirus hotspots quarantine for two weeks. Under the current rules, travelers arriving without proof of a negative test won't be stopped from entering the state, but must quarantine for 14 days. Individuals who can prove they tested negative will still have to quarantine for three days upon arrival in New York and then must take a second test. If that's negative, they no longer have to self-isolate. If a test comes back positive, local health officials will issue isolation orders and initiate contact tracing to identify and quarantine other people exposed to the virus. Anyone caught violating a quarantine order could face a civil penalty of up to $10,000. The testing mandate does not apply to neighboring states." Daily News' Denis Slattery, Michael Gartland and Chris Sommerfeldt "SUNY announced its plans for the spring semester Sunday, saying students will need to have COVID-19 tests before or when they return to campus Feb. 1 and will not have spring break. The measures come as students will end on-campus learning for the Thanksgiving break and finish the fall semester online. But when students return after the break in 2021, they will need to test negative for coronavirus and complete a seven-day quarantine prior to their arrival. 'With COVID-19 surging nationwide, and with increased cases in New York, SUNY has devised a comprehensive plan to keep this virus at bay throughout the flu season and through the spring semester,' SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras said in a statement." USA Today Joseph Spector "GOV. CUOMO is being hammered by black and Hispanic lawyers to make the judiciary more diverse, especially now that the state is forcing several minority judges to retire. Last month, the state told 46 judges who are 70 or older that they'll be taking off their robes at year's end — a $55 million cost-cutting move driven by the coronavirus pandemic. Often, judges are allowed to stay past the 'mandatory' retirement age if they are recertified by the state. In the city's trial courts, five judges of color are being forced out: in Bronx civil court, Justices Robert Johnson and Donald Miles, who are black, and Justice Fernando Tapia, who is Hispanic; in Brooklyn civil court, Justice Larry Martin, who is black; and in Queens criminal court, Justice Daniel Lewis, who is black. Ten judges have already voluntarily retired and two have died, among them three Latinos and one African American. In Queens, the most diverse county in the nation, two black judges — Justices Ronald Hollie and Leslie Leach — are voluntarily retiring at the end of the year. With their exit and the forced departure of Lewis, the borough's percentage of black judges will fall to 9%. With a population of 2.3 million, Queens will be left with one black male judge, Justice Kenneth Holder." New York Post's Melanie Gray #UpstateAmerica: Who would, or could, steal a historic cannon weighing up to 400 pounds. Inquiring minds near Fort Klock want to know. | | | |   | | |
| | ... 2020 VISION ... | | WHEN REP. MAX Rose took the stage on a disappointing election night, there was more on his mind than the wide margin by which he was trailing his Republican challenger. The imperiled freshman Democrat devoted much of his remarks to defending his decision to attend a Staten Island protest march in June after the death of George Floyd — a decision that was repeatedly attacked by his opponent Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, who painted Rose throughout the campaign as anti-police. "Young Staten Islanders marched to express their pain, and for that they were called rioters. They were called thugs, all on national television," Rose said. "They were demonized for their faith in this country's capability, this country's capacity to be better, their belief that peaceful protest is how you change this country for the better." The Black Lives Matter movement loomed large in electoral contests throughout New York this week — perhaps nowhere more than Staten Island, which many NYPD officers and first responders call home. For Rose, his participation in the protest made the already difficult task of running as a Democrat in the city's most conservative borough all the harder. With in-person votes counted, Malliotakis leads Rose by 58 percent to 42 percent, or about 37,000 votes. The Board of Elections has received more than 41,000 absentee ballots so far, and those still have to be counted. Malliotakis declared victory on election night, but Rose has not conceded and the Associated Press has not called the race. The wave of protests against police brutality became a wedge issue in the contest. POLITICO's Erin Durkin "A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE who's voiced support for the far-right conspiracy theory QAnon has pulled ahead in the race for the Coney Island Assembly seat, which has been held by Democrats for more than 80 years. Mark Szuszkiewicz, a Coney Island native, claimed 51 percent of the in-person vote in the 46th Assembly District, which encompasses Sea Gate and Coney Island, as well as portions of Brighton Beach, Gravesend, and Bay Ridge. He leads freshman Democratic Assemblywoman Mathylde Frontus by 2,822 votes. The Board of Elections still has to tally more than 5,000 absentee ballots from the district, which will decide the race by a razor-thin margin... In several Instagram and Twitter posts, [Szuszkiewicz] has voiced support for QAnon, a right-wing conspiracy theory that believes Democratic pedophiles are running a child sex-trafficking ring and conspiring against President Donald Trump." Brooklyn Paper's Rose Adams "NEW YORK CITY is set to begin counting its more than half a million mail-in ballots Monday — votes that could swing several local races. While the deadline for the state's local boards of election to receive absentee ballots is Tuesday, the city will at least get a jump on the ones it has so far. As of Friday, the number of mail-in votes received by each borough was: 199,352 in Manhattan; 161,762 in Queens; 106,987 in Brooklyn; 52,049 in The Bronx and 31,351 in Staten Island. The total is about half the 1.1 million absentee ballots requested by residents." New York Post's Carl Campanile and Kate Sheehy | | FROM THE DELEGATION | | "THE NEW YORK delegation to the House of Representatives will add three Black members next year, including two men who will be the first Black, gay members of Congress. New York City Councilman Ritchie Torres, of the Bronx, and Mondaire Jones, a lawyer from Rockland County, won seats representing the Bronx and Lower Hudson Valley, respectively. Voters also selected Jamaal Bowman, a former high school principal, to represent a district that includes parts of Westchester County and the northern Bronx. Assuming Democratic U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado holds on to his lead in the 19th District and Democratic candidate Jackie Gordon remains behind Assemblyman Andrew Garbarino in the Second District, there will be seven Black members of the state's congressional delegation. The Associated Press hasn't declared a winner in either district, and thousands of absentee ballots must be counted starting this week. Seven members is the highest number in state history and would give New York the largest number of Black members of Congress from any state ever, according to David Bositis, a political researcher who tracks Black representation." Wall Street Journal's Jimmy Vielkind REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ on Sunday said it was "irresponsible" for fellow Democrats to point fingers at each other over the party's weak showing in House races, warning that it would only inflame deep tensions The New York Democrat, an icon of the party's progressive wing, appeared on CNN "State of the Union" as House Democrats faced the prospect of holding a thinner majority heading into the next Congress than they had after the 2018 election. Some House Democratic leaders and other moderates warned last week that moving too far left cost the party House seats and imperiled the party's hopes of capturing the Senate, which will be determined by two runoff races in Georgia in January. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a "Blue Dog" Democrat from Virginia, warned colleagues on a private call after the election that "no one should say 'defund the police' ever again." Ocasio-Cortez rejected that criticism on Sunday. POLITICO's Zachary Warmbrodt | | | | JOIN THURSDAY: A WOMEN RULE ROUNDTABLE : 2020 proved to be a history-making year for women in politics. We saw the first Black woman elected as vice president, a record number of Republican women running for Congress, and women of color running for public office at an all-time high. Join POLITICO's Elizabeth Ralph, Crooked Media's Shaniqua McClendon, and Winning for Women's Micah Yousefi for a deep dive into the results for women candidates in the 2020 election cycle and what progress we still need to see for women in politics. REGISTER HERE. | | | | |
| | TRUMP'S NEW YORK | | "STEPHEN K. BANNON, the former adviser to President Trump who is known for his right-wing extremism, suggested on Thursday that the F.B.I. director and Dr. Anthony S. Fauci should be beheaded, and Twitter responded by banning one of his accounts. On Friday, a prominent lawyer who was defending Mr. Bannon against fraud charges in federal court in Manhattan abruptly moved to drop him as a client, one person familiar with the matter said. 'Mr. Bannon is in the process of retaining new counsel,' the lawyer, William A. Burck, said in a brief letter to the court, giving no explanation." New York Times' Benjamin Weiser, Michael S. Schmidt and William K. Rashbaum | | AROUND NEW YORK | | — Rich people are hiring personal security guards because of worries about crime and unrest. — The Staten Island Yankees minor league team has been eliminated by the Yankees organization. — The Rockefeller Center skating rink will open Nov. 21 with limited pandemic capacity, but will close on Jan. 17 because of planned renovations. — Success Academy, the city's largest charter school network, will remain all-remote through at least March 2021. — State Attorney General Tish James is suing Sotheby's, saying the auction house has defrauded New York out of millions of dollars. — St. Peter's Health System announced a no-visitors policy, with some exceptions. — Cuomo says New Yorkers can fish without a license on Nov. 11, Veterans Day. | | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY: POLITICO's John Harris … Idrees Kahloon, U.S. policy correspondent for The Economist (h/t Nihal Krishan) ... Edelman's Aleena Hasnain … Peter Lichtenbaum, a partner at Covington & Burling … Sunshine Sachs' Claire Tonneson is 32 … Mike Bloomberg, COS to Holyoke, Mass., Mayor Alex Morse, is 31 … David Levine, COO of BerlinRosen (h/t Mariam Khan) … Capital One's Jill Shatzen Kerr … HuffPost's Arthur Delaney … Matthew Dolan … Tal Keinan … Karen Scott … Megan Carpentier … Bill Arnone … Calcaterra Pollack LLP's Regina Calcaterra (h/t Lynn Trono) ... … (was Sunday): "ABC World News Tonight" anchor David Muir turned 47 … ABC's Shushannah Walshe … Peter Kadzik, partner at Venable, turned 66 … Wayne Berman, Blackstone senior managing director and head of global government affairs … Alan Harper Finch ... Lucy Bradlow, VP of strategic comms at the Glover Park Group … Leon Fresco, a partner at Holland & Knight … Bob Jones, co-chair of the federal government law and policy practice at Greenberg Traurig … Latham and Watkins' Christopher Martin … Ira Magaziner turned 73 … … (was Saturday): former CIA Director David Petraeus, now a partner at KKR and chair of the KKR Global Institute … ABC's Kaylee Hartung … Telemundo/NBC's Jose Diaz-Balart … Siobhan Gorman, partner at Brunswick Group (h/t George Little and Tim Griffin) … Phil LaRue … Avi Zvi Zenilman turned 36 … Kate O'Connor, c hief counsel for the House Energy and Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee GOP … Blackstone's Jen Friedman … Laurie Tobias Cohen … (was Friday): former Rep. Robert Mrazek (D-N.Y.) turned 75 MEDIAWATCH — A former New York Post photographer charges in a lawsuit that he was fired in retaliation for requesting protective equipment to use while covering the Covid-19 pandemic and massive protests. | | A message from American Land Title Association: While the work of land title professionals is behind-the-scenes, and they may sometimes go unseen, the joy from what they do can be seen on the smiling faces of millions of Americans when they finally get the title of "homeowner." Land title professionals have safeguarded the American dream for more than 125 years. Meet the people who help protect homebuyers and sellers when they make the most important financial decision of their lives. Learn more | | |
| | REAL ESTATE | | "RETURNING TO New York after fighting in Vietnam, Carlos Escobar went to work for an elevator company and later founded the Titan Machine Corp. to produce elevator equipment in Long Island City. He ripped the trunk lid off his car to make his early deliveries as his company started in 1973. Today, his son Carlos E. Escobar is trying to figure out how to save Titan, now located on Ninth Street in the same neighborhood... Escobar's solution is to take advantage of a new option in the city's zoning code that allows the redevelopment of locations such as Titan's as commercial properties with office and retail components — as long as significant space is set aside for industrial uses." The City's Greg David
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