| | | | | |  | | By Erin Durkin and Anna Gronewold with Jonathan Custodio | New year, same old feud. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio have spent the last two days arguing about why New York has been so slow to get coronavirus vaccines into people's arms, with both leaders facing criticism for the delays. Beyond the personalities involved — who long ago demonstrated they are unlikely to work seamlessly together even on matters of life and death — there's a substantive dispute about the best way to get vaccines out the door. So far, the state is only allowing health care workers and people at nursing homes to be vaccinated. De Blasio wants eligibility to be widened, giving people over 75 and frontline workers in other fields the chance to get the shot. The city's public hospital system, which has come under criticism from Cuomo for using too few of its allotted doses, is on track to vaccinate all staffers who want shots by the end of the week. But about 30 percent of workers have turned down the chance to get vaccinated, and the city wants to move on to the next priority groups so it can use all its doses. "What we need is the freedom to vaccinate," de Blasio said Tuesday. "Give them the freedom to vaccinate, and they will vaccinate thousands, and tens of thousands, then hundreds of thousands, then millions. What they don't need is to be shamed. What they don't need is more bureaucracy. What they don't need is the threat of fines." Cuomo has balked at that approach, saying hospitals need to do a better job vaccinating health care workers who are eligible now — and threatening to fine or revoke vaccines from those who don't move fast enough. The state says it won't move on to the next phase because it doesn't have enough doses on hand to get through health care workers. The city opened its first two public sites for health care workers Tuesday, but appointments are hard to come by, and de Blasio acknowledged that the city is still looking for spots to setup distribution sites. In other parts of the state, county leaders are fed up with the state's vaccine rollout and are calling for local mass vaccination plans — which have existed for years, but were set aside in favor of a hospital-based approach — to be activated. IT'S WEDNESDAY and the first official day of the New York Legislature's 2021 session. And while you were sleeping, control of the U.S. Senate nudged slightly toward Democrats: Raphael Warnock was declared the winner in his bid to oust Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler. Jon Ossoff leads GOP Sen. David Perdue but the race hasn't been called yet. 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? No public schedule available by press time. WHERE'S BILL? No public schedule available by press time. | | | | GET THE BIG PRE-INAUGURATION SCOOPS IN TRANSITION PLAYBOOK: Inauguration Day is quickly approaching. Is the Biden administration ready? Transition Playbook brings you inside the transition and newly forming administration, tracking the latest from Biden world and the transition of power. Written for political insiders, this scoop-filled newsletter breaks big news and analyzes the appointments, people and emerging power centers of the new administration. Track the transition and the first 100 days of the incoming Biden administration. Subscribe today. | | | | |
|  | WHAT CITY HALL'S READING | | "CITY OFFICIALS cannot remove homeless men living at an Upper West Side hotel-turned-shelter unless the residents wish to leave, a panel of appeals court judges unanimously ruled on Tuesday. The fate of the men's living status has changed on a month-to-month basis as lawyers for Mayor de Blasio, a Financial District community group and advocates for uptown residents who live near The Lucerne hotel on W. 79th St. argue over where they should live. The men were moved into the facility at the beginning of the pandemic to curb COVID-19′s spread among the city's vulnerable homeless population, prompting an outcry from residents." New York Daily News' Molly Crane-Newman THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY has largely opted not to issue fines to commuters who aren't wearing masks since Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered a larger crackdown on violators. The MTA has only issued 25 fines across its entire system of trains, subways and buses since September, when Cuomo signed an executive order making offenders liable for $50 fines. While MTA officials have pointed to internal surveys indicating the vast majority of riders wear masks, residents have publicly lamented it's common to see people eschewing the practice. "I love the subway. I'm walking enough to not have to take it these days and every time I do take it it's filled with people without masks," said Josh, a Manhattan resident who called into WNYC's The Brian Lehrer Show about the issue in early December. "There's always one or two guys on every car." The MTA's light touch on issuing summonses largely reflects the approach other major transit systems in the United States have taken of leaning more on educational campaigns than punitive measures. POLITICO's Danielle Muoio "THE NEW YORK City Department of Transportation got the green light to turn a stretch of Main Street in Flushing into a bus-only route when a Queens judge ruled against a group of business owners suing to block the project Tuesday. In his decision, Judge Kevin Kerrigan said he was skeptical of the plan but determined that the DOT has authority over bus routes and traffic patterns in New York City. 'This court does not venture to say that the plan is a good one. However, this Court's skepticism in this regard is irrelevant,' Kerrigan wrote. 'This Court may not invade the province of the Commissioner of DOT and substitute its own judgment and opinion in place of that of the agency.'" Queens Eagle's David Brand "THIS COULD be the election that flips an old maxim on its head: we may soon find out that there are many different Democratic ways to pick up the trash. While garbage probably won't be among the top issues most voters care about when electing the next mayor of New York City, what better opportunity for a real conversation about how the city handles its trash and recycling than having the recently-departed sanitation commissioner among the candidates vying for the city's top job. Kathryn Garcia, who after six years in the post left her job as head of the city's Department of Sanitation in September to run for mayor in this year's election, is always ready to talk trash, and she recently previewed her vision for the future of how the city deals with its garbage in an interview with Gotham Gazette, while promising a full plan soon." Gotham Gazette's Ben Max FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Rep. Jerrold Nadler is endorsing City Council Member Brad Lander for city comptroller. Nadler, the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, called Lander "one of the most creative local policymakers I know." "He has a unique ability to bring together a progressive vision with his deep knowledge of the workings of city government," he said. | | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | SESSION DAY ONE: — "Democrats in the state Senate on Tuesday unveiled their committee chairmanships for the 2021-22 legislative term as the conference now holds a supermajority in the chamber. Democrats have also created new committees, including one overseeing cities outside of New York City as the party holds multiple seats in upstate cities like Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse for the first time in decades. The conference is turning to several first-year Senate lawmakers to lead the new panels." Spectrum's Nick Reisman — Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt is pledging to force his chamber to regularly debate Gov. Andrew Cuomo's emergency powers in the coming weeks. "We are well past the time where one person should be governing the state and coming up with polices in response to the most significant public health crisis this state and this country has faced in our lifetimes," Ortt said at a press conference on Tuesday. "We will introduce a resolution next week calling on the majority to rescind the governor's emergency powers … We will introduce that resolution every day we're in session until it's done — whether it's March 31 or before, hopefully sooner, but I know there's colleagues on the other side who have also expressed concern about the governor's one-man show." POLITICO's Bill Mahoney — Groups in the advocacy world are dropping in their priority packages. The New York League of Conservation Voters released an agenda aimed at tackling transportation emissions and eliminating waste. Common Cause is focusing on granting voting rights for people on parole, reforming the Board of Elections, and guaranteeing nonpartisan election observers at polling sites. — 'New York lawmakers want to save the wolves, even if they are extinct here' "WHEN THE CORONAVIRUS began spreading through New York, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo ordered state-run hospitals to stop suing patients over unpaid medical bills, and almost all of the major private hospitals in the state voluntarily followed suit by suspending their claims. But one chain of hospitals has plowed ahead with thousands of lawsuits : Northwell Health, which is the state's largest health system and is run by one of Mr. Cuomo's closest allies. The nonprofit Northwell sued more than 2,500 patients last year, records show, a flood of litigation even as the pandemic has led to widespread job losses and economic uncertainty. The Northwell lawsuits each sought an average of $1,700 in unpaid bills, plus large interest payments. They hit teachers, construction workers, grocery store employees and others, including some who had lost work in the pandemic or gotten sick themselves. "Northwell has not been alone in pursuing debt through the courts during the pandemic. About 50 hospitals in New York have sued a total of 5,000 patients since March, according to a search of filings in courts around the state. Most are small and located upstate. Northwell stands out because of the sheer number of its lawsuits — and because of its connections to Mr. Cuomo. The other major New York City hospital systems, including NewYork-Presbyterian and NYU Langone Health, have largely suspended lawsuits during the pandemic. It is unclear when they might begin suing again." New York Times' Brian Rosenthal "A STATE LAWMAKER from Queens was slapped with a $15,000 fine for accepting free meals and trips from a nonprofit that he boosted during his time on the City Council — all of which were paid for by Big Apple taxpayers, according to the city's ethics watchdog. State Sen. James Sanders Jr. (D-Queens) scored five stays in luxury accommodations at a resort in the Poconos and five swank Hudson River dinner cruises for himself and family members from the Margert Community Corporation, a non-profit that provides rent assistance and other social services to low-income families. All told, Sanders cashed in on gifts worth at least $4,000 from the MCC as he doled out more than $840,000 in city funds to the group, the Conflict of Interest Board said in its report, which was released Tuesday. COIB determined that Sanders broke ethics rules an astonishing 18 times between 2008 and 2012 as he represented Far Rockaway and adjacent neighborhoods as a city lawmaker." New York Post's Sam Raskin and Nolan Hicks "ANOTHER resident has died and another 257 cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Albany County overnight, officials announced Tuesday. The development comes after a new strain of coronavirus was discovered in a Saratoga Springs man who reported no recent travel — an indication that community spread is likely underway in the region, if not elsewhere, health officials have said. 'With news of the more contagious new strain of the virus in the Capital Region, I renew my call for people to stay home when possible and for businesses to have employees work remotely,' Albany County Executive Dan McCoy said." Times Union's Bethany Bump #UpstateAmerica: Bills fans have started an online petition to ban Cuomo from attending the playoffs, stating "we don't want you here." | | | | A NEW YEAR MEANS A NEW HUDDLE IS HERE: Huddle, our daily congressional must-read, has a new author! Olivia Beavers took the reins this week, and she has the latest news and whispers from the Speakers' Lobby. Don't miss out, subscribe to our Huddle newsletter, the essential guide to all things Capitol Hill. Subscribe today. | | | | |
| | TRUMP'S NEW YORK | | "SEVEN U.S. states and Washington, D.C., sued a U.S. banking regulator on Tuesday, seeking to void a rule they said could encourage predatory lending by preventing them from enforcing state laws against exploitative interest rates. The complaint filed in Manhattan federal court against the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency seeks to undo the "True Lender Rule," which the regulator finalized in October. The OCC issued the rule to clarify when a bank is the 'true lender' for a loan originated in one state and sold off into another. The watchdog said it would provide 'legal certainty necessary for banks to partner confidently with other market participants and meet the credit needs of their customers.' But the states argue it allows lenders to bypass their laws that cap high interest rates by originating loans in less-strict states and then moving them elsewhere. 'Rather than stem the tide of exploitative and predatory loans that trap vulnerable consumers in cycles of debt, the Trump Administration wants to open the floodgates by sanctioning schemes that allow the financial services industry to target ... and paint a bullseye on the backs' of consumers, said New York Attorney General Letitia James, who led the coalition of states." Reuters' Katanga Johnson | | FROM THE DELEGATION | | "REP. ELISE STEFANIK, a Republican from Saratoga, said she plans to object to some electors on Wednesday as Congress meets to certify the Electoral College vote for President-elect Joe Biden, saying, 'I am acting to protect our democratic process.' And new Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of Staten Island said she will probably do the same, telling a radio show Monday her goal is ensuring 'every vote that is counted is a legal one.' But other House GOP members in New York are either planning to vote to certify Biden's electoral college victory over President Donald Trump or are mum on their plans, showing the divide among Republicans in the state and the nation over unfounded allegations of electoral fraud. Reps. Tom Reed and John Katko, who represent parts of central New York and the Southern Tier, said they will vote for certification. They are two of seven GOP House members in New York, with one seat in central New York still undecided." USA Today Network's Joseph Spector | | AROUND NEW YORK | | — Police are investigating allegations of rape and abuse leveled against the founder of a politically connected Rockaway youth organization. — The city is falling short on bike parking, according to a report from Transportation Alternatives. — Activists are urging lawmakers to enshrine into law the ability of formerly incarcerated people to vote. — New Yorkers are getting their stimulus checks but are caught between the need to save and urge to indulge. — At least five women have been punched in the face by a man at the Morgan Ave. L train station in Brooklyn since November. — A Columbia University vice president is charged with sexually assaulting a child. — Hunter Mountain closed to guests because Covid-19 caused a staff shortage. — MOUNT VERNON DISPATCH: The campaign manager of former Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas is suing the city's Industrial Development Agency for $600,000, claiming her contract for a top job in the agency was violated when she was suspended last summer by Thomas' successor. — De Blasio signed a bill barring fast food restaurants from firing workers without just cause. — A man was arrested for planting a fake bomb at a Queens mall. — State Sen. Brian Benjamin is relinquishing two dozen contributions raised in his bid for City Comptroller after several donors revealed they never gave money. | | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Eric Trump is 37 … Olivia Nuzzi, Washington correspondent at New York magazine, is 28 … Michael Corn, senior E.P. of "Good Morning America" … Kate McKinnon is 37 … Kimball Stroud … WSJ's Kate O'Keeffe and James Taranto … Shaquille Brewster, NBC News/MSNBC correspondent … Julie Chen is 51 … Tom Lloyd … Henry R. Kravis is 77 … Julia Blakeley … Mark Hyman is 63 … Alexandra Zakich … Alex Berenson … Nancy Baker MAKING MOVES: Jessica Killin is now chief of staff for Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.). She was previously chief of staff to former Rep. Donna Shalala (D-Fla.) … Omar Suarez is the new director of partnerships and outreach at the city Campaign Finance Board. He was formerly a state organizer and program director at Dominicanos USA. … Josh Nass has launched Merkava Strategies, a government relations firm focused on providing tailored solutions for high net-worth individuals seeking guidance navigating Washington, D.C. MEDIAWATCH: Keith Poole will be the new editor in chief of the New York Post Group. Col Allan, who came out of retirement in 2019 and returned to the paper, is again retiring. SPOTTED: Rockefeller heirs Catharine O'Neill, George O'Neill III, Roger O'Neill and Phoebe O'Neill attending the Mar-a-Lago New Year's Eve celebration. Eldest sister Catharine O'Neill has worked in the Trump administration since 2016 in a variety of capacities and is currently the White House Liaison at USAID. Pic | | REAL ESTATE | | "PUBLIC HOUSING TENANT Eleanor Dowe lies in a coma in the intensive care unit at Bronx Lebanon Hospital — and her family blames NYCHA's failure to do its job. The family alleges that the 66-year-old Bronx grandmother took the stairwell from her 19th floor apartment Saturday morning because both of the elevators in her building at the Webster Houses were not functioning properly. A few steps in, they say, she slipped and struck her head, causing a severe brain injury. She had been on her way to a dialysis appointment at the time of the accident. 'It's something that could have been fixed and that didn't happen,' said her daughter, Annette Dowe. 'And that's why I'm angry.' As THE CITY reported in August, NYCHA has struggled during the pandemic to keep up with a rash of elevator outages across its 175,000 apartment portfolio...Dowe, a tenant leader in her building, had made 15 calls to NYCHA about broken elevators since August, her family said Tuesday." The City's Greg B. Smith "FOR DECADES, a 48,000-square-foot parking lot has sat between Water and Pearl Streets at the corner of Peck Slip, the edge of an 11-block historic district in the South Street Seaport section of Lower Manhattan. Attempts to build on it have proven fruitless. At least nine proposals have been brought to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the body that would need to greenlight any proposal in the historic district. All have failed. Now, the Howard Hughes Corporation is trying again, with a 470-foot-tall dual-tower proposal with about 360 homes, including around 100 affordable apartments. But the prospect of a residential tower is so loathed by some in the community that one faction is lobbying for the NYPD's Manhattan tow pound to be relocated to the historic district instead. 'We consider it to be a reasonable alternative,' said Michael Kramer, a prominent member of a group known as the Seaport Coalition. 'We're not NIMBY here.'" Gothamist's Sydney Pereira
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