| | | | | |  | | By Erin Durkin and Anna Gronewold with Jonathan Custodio | It's a new year, and we'd love nothing more than to put the biggest story of 2020 behind us. But to do that, experts agree that New York will need to aggressively vaccinate much of its population for Covid-19. Instead, it is getting off to a slow start even as the virus continues to surge. Statewide, only about 237,000 vaccine doses have been given out, including close to 105,000 in New York City. While Mayor Bill de Blasio has vowed to pick up the pace and vaccinate a million people in January, critics say the sluggish effort so far is insufficient to beat back the pandemic. City Council health chair Mark Levine, noting that the number of vaccinations dropped to near-zero on holidays, is drafting legislation to require a vaccine site in every ZIP code to operate 24/7. "We are in a war-like situation," he said. "We are losing precious time." Two leading mayoral hopefuls criticized the pace of vaccinations Sunday, while Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin told the New York Post the state's distribution efforts are an example of "blithering incompetence." The state has taken a strict approach to prioritizing groups who can get the vaccine, but de Blasio administration officials and others are calling for more people to be authorized so distribution can move faster. Doctors in private practice will be eligible to get the shot starting today. Among those who haven't yet gotten the jab is Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who said Sunday he won't take it until it is available in Black and Hispanic communities around the state. 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? No public schedule available by press time. WHERE'S BILL? Holding a media availability and appearing on NY1's Inside City Hall. ICYMI: SHARON BASCOM was preparing to retire, after years of bouncing around New York City's public schools, when she finally landed a permanent teaching position in Brooklyn last December. She felt a renewed connection with her kindergarten students and began looking forward to more time on the job. Then, on April 6, just days after she called her younger sister screaming in pain, Bascom died alone in a hospital room in Queens. A few days later, Traci Belton, a supervisor at the city's child protective services agency, became so worried about the risks she faced by going into work that she took to Facebook to share her fears with colleagues. One week later she was dead. In late March, Quinsey Simpson called in sick from his job as a correction officer on Rikers Island for the second time in 18 years. It would be his last: Simpson was admitted to the hospital on March 25, one week after his 62nd birthday, and died two days later. These New Yorkers are part of an unenviable club: At least 298 frontline municipal employees who died from the coronavirus pandemic that has ravaged the city for the better part of the year, according to City Hall. POLITICO's Sally Goldenberg and Jonathan Custodio | | | | 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 | | FORMER REP. MAX ROSE will not run for mayor of New York City this year. The Staten Island Democrat bowed out on Sunday, several weeks after opening an account with the city's Campaign Finance Board and announcing that he was exploring a mayoral bid. "After serious consideration, I will not be running for Mayor of New York this year," he said in a statement on Sunday. Rose, an Army veteran, had set his sights on City Hall after losing his bid for re-election to a second term in Congress, defeated by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican. But he faced a large field of rivals and some difficult electoral math: His base on Staten Island and in southern Brooklyn has some of the lowest turnouts in Democratic primaries. And the moderate positions he took in Congress may have put him at odds with key Democratic voting blocs elsewhere in the city. POLITICO's Erin Durkin — Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams released a host of campaign proposals, including allowing community boards and precinct councils to approve or veto NYPD precinct commanders; increasing taxes on those making more than $5 million; and waiving sales tax on Tuesdays. "THE PUBLIC got its first chance to walk the halls of the new Moynihan Train Hall across from Penn Station Friday, two days after officials cut the ceremonial ribbon to the mammoth, $1.6 billion train hub. For some visitors, the stop was merely intended to gaze at the enormous hall complete with an enormous skylight roof and Art Deco clock. Many were spotted craning their necks to take in the open skylight, pivoting their hips taking scenic, panoramic photos. Others searched for fresco portraits created by Kehinde Wiley, which are prominently displayed at the 33rd Street entrance, or the spacious and modern Amtrak lounge on the upper floor. Self-proclaimed train and travel nerd Christian Keesee, 59, from the Upper East Side was one of the first people at Moynihan Friday morning, declaring it a true gem for the city. 'This is a New York station made for New Yorkers, it's fantastic,' he said." WNYC's Stephen Nessen — The OMNY contactless payment system is now available at all subway stations and city buses. "WHEN THE PANDEMIC hit New York City, cars seemed to disappear from many streets as the lockdown brought urban life to a halt and drivers stayed home. Today, traffic is still lighter than usual at times. But in a troubling trend echoed across the country, the number of deadly car crashes has soared . At least 243 people died in traffic crashes in New York City in 2020 — making it the deadliest year on record since Mayor Bill de Blasio introduced his signature plan to improve street safety in 2014. The spike in traffic deaths defied historical trends: Economic downturns and reduced congestion typically lead to fewer fatal crashes, federal researchers say. But during the pandemic, it seemed that drivers who felt cooped up in their homes flocked to wide open streets." New York Times' Christina Goldbaum — The city has barely made any headway on a promised plan to combat rampant parking placard abuse. | | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | "THE LEGISLATURE is set to 'return' to the State Capitol Wednesday to kickoff a 2021 session that promises to be unlike any other. Though some lawmakers actually will be in Albany as Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo delivers the annual State of the State address, there will be little to none of the usual pomp because of the COVID-19 pandemic. And some won't be returning physically, but virtually through the use of technology. The usual ambitious list of policy proposals? They won't go away but they could be trimmed as most of the action will be tied to the virus." Newsday's Yancey Roy — A long dormant Assembly bill has already become the subject of conspiracy theories. "NEW YORK has exceeded 1 million total confirmed COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic, with the state surpassing the unwanted milestone Friday as the slow, steady climb in infections statewide continued. A total of 15,074 coronavirus tests processed Friday came back positive, pushing New York's total to 1,005,785 since March, Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office reported Saturday. The state's total includes only those cases confirmed positive by a diagnostic or rapid COVID-19 test. The actual number of coronavirus infections is likely much higher: Thousands of people have carried the virus but were never tested, either because they never showed symptoms or they were infected in the early days of the pandemic when tests were not as widely available. For weeks, New York has seen the coronavirus increase its spread incrementally, though the speed appears to have picked up in recent days." USA Today Network's Jon Campbell — A coronavirus outbreak at a convent near Albany has infected nearly half of its roughly 100 residents, leaving nine sisters dead in December. — AG Tish James has recused herself from the ParCare vaccination probe "to avoid even an appearance of conflict." A ONETIME legislative aide who filed a sexual harassment complaint against former state Sen. Jeff Klein three years ago sees a silver lining in a recent legal maneuver designed to drop her accusation. The aide, Erica Vladimer, says that a trove of documents filed in state Supreme Court in Albany shows how the state Joint Commission on Public Ethics continued its investigation of her complaint, and so provides an unexpected affirmation of her decision to pursue the case. "That JCOPE believes there's enough evidence to prove this happened was validation that I never expected and that I wasn't sure that I needed," said Vladimer, who worked for Klein. "But I certainly took a deep breath I didn't know I'd been holding since I came forward. Klein filed a petition to block JCOPE from conducting a long-stalled hearing into the sexual harassment accusation against him, saying that commission does not have the authority to pursue the case. POLITICO's Anna Gronewold — "Clearly, it's not working," Sen. LIz. Krueger, a Democrat from Manhattan, told Wall Street Journal's Jimmy Vielkind of JCOPE's investigatory powers. "You want to go as high and independent as you possibly can get. And the dilemma, frankly, is that we don't have that system." "'NO MATTER what people say negatively, it's painful, it's hurtful, it's discouraging, it's angering and it can defame the Lord's bride, the church, most of all,' Pastor Phil Smith, of Victorious Life Christian Church, said in an early August sermon. 'The enemy seeks to defame our Lord and give Him a bad name.' His message — only God is the source of ultimate judgment and forgiveness — was typical for a sermon. But the apparent inspiration for the message on that Sunday was atypical, and it was not the enemy harming the church's reputation, but a young woman suing them for allegedly abetting and harboring a Sunday school teacher who she says sexually abused her as a girl. Abigail Barker, 27, recently filed a lawsuit against Mark Rhodes, a member of the church who was her Sunday School teacher and deacon. The civil complaint alleges Rhodes sexually molested her, leaving her traumatized from the incident. The defendants in the lawsuit are the church, Rhodes and Dominick Brignola, leader of the church. Brignola was a former close friend of Barker's father, she said, and a contentious email exchange between them is included as an exhibit in the lawsuit." Times Union's Edward McKinley #UpstateAmerica: Bella the Deer lives on with a statue in downtown Pulaski. | | | | 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. | | | | |
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | "CONSTITUENTS of New York's 22nd congressional district can expect some changes next week, a result of the still-undecided congressional race . There is still no winner in the contest between incumbent Anthony Brindisi (D-Utica) and challenger Claudia Tenney, a Republican from New Hartford. Tenney leads by just 29 ballots of 311,695 cast... Meanwhile, the 117th Congress will convene for the first time Sunday, Jan. 3. When that happens, there will not be a representative for the 22nd district, which is composed of eight counties in Upstate New York So what will happen to Brindisi's office while the election hangs in the balance. Brindisi's staff members will stay, but their jobs will be apolitical. Their work will consist primarily of handling constituent calls and case management, like for a retiree who needs help getting Social Security benefits or a veteran who needs health care help, according to an aide with the House's Committee on House Administration." Syracuse.com's Patrick Lohmann "A NEW CONGRESS is being sworn in Sunday with three new members representing New York City. Jamaal Bowman (D-Westchester/Bronx), Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) and Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx) are part of the freshman class making up the 117th U.S. Congress. Bowman, a former middle school principal, is new to government, but Malliotakis is a former state assemblywoman and Torres a former City Council member. The three help diversify the U.S. House's makeup, adding new backgrounds and lived experiences. Torres and Mondaire Jones (D-Westchester/Rockland) are the first openly gay Black members of the House. Sunday's Opening Day proceedings stretched out over hours amid COVID-19 precautions that restricted the number of lawmakers who could be on the House floor at once and required cleanings after one group left and the next came." NY1's Emily Ngo | | AROUND NEW YORK | | — Now you can bike or hike from NYC to Buffalo. — A Queens community fridge was destroyed by vandals , but donations quickly poured in to replace it. — The state Department of Labor has resolved an issue that was preventing people from getting their unemployment benefits certified. — Schenectady is pushing back against criticism that portions of its workforce are demoralized. — The Mario M. Cuomo Bridge is a hit with cyclists. — A union charges that the Metropolitan Opera is using the pandemic as an excuse to furlough its top musicians and fill their spots with lower-paid non-union talent. — A faction within the United Federation of Teachers wants elementary schools to close again due to rising Covid-19 rates. — The city has promised to relocate the NYPD tow pound away from Pier 76 on the Hudson River. — New York billionaires have gotten richer during the pandemic. — The city has banned discrimination based on religiously-inspired hair styles or head wear. — Sheriff's deputies broke up three illicit New Year's parties with hundreds of revelers. — More than 200 people took the plunge at Coney Island on New Year's Day, despite the fact that the annual Polar Bear swim was officially canceled. | | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Doris Kearns Goodwin is 78 … Ben Mayer, executive producer of "The Mehdi Hasan Show" … Rob Gifford, VP of content strategy and managing editor at CBSN … Joshua Zeitz is 47 … Andy Borowitz is 63 … Marc Brumer, SVP at the Herald Group … Deborah Matteliano is 32 … Qianwei Zhang … Adam Goldman, SVP at Mercury Public Affairs, is 49 … Emily Tess Katz is 31 … Patrick Connolly … former Rep. Lester Lionel Wolff (D-N.Y.) is 102 MEDIAWATCH: Jacob Kornbluh will join The Forward as a senior political reporter. He has been a reporter at Jewish Insider. MAKING MOVES: Alyson Grant Tarek starts today as senior adviser to the Mayor's Office of State Legislative Affairs. She was previously the grants director at NYC Census 2020. … Karoline Leavitt is now comms director for Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.). She previously was an assistant White House press secretary. | | REAL ESTATE | | "WHEN NEW YORK STATE lawmakers approved emergency legislation this week to ban evictions for at least two months, they were seeking to prevent hundreds of thousands of people from being forced from their homes during the winter, with the pandemic still raging. But they also feared something more perilous: a broad ripping at the fabric of society. Families becoming homeless after being evicted, overwhelming shelters. Children haphazardly transferring schools and falling far behind. Lines at food pantries growing. People ending up in overcrowded housing, increasing their chances of developing chronic disease. During the outbreak, evictions have been associated with the spread of Covid-19 And so the threat of eviction and subsequent hardships looms across the region." New York Times' Dana Rubinstein and Jazmine Hughes "WHEN AMIT Bansal moved from Manhattan to the New York suburbs in July last year, he knew he would love the larger home, the roomy garden and — when the time came for children — the excellent local schools. What he was not prepared for was the peace and quiet. 'Here, the only person I interact with in person all day is my wife. It's challenging for me,' says the 36-year-old venture capitalist, who works from his new home in Larchmont, a village in Westchester County, a 40-minute train ride from New York's Grand Central Station. 'The energy of [Manhattan], the randomness you get from nearly two million people: on every block unexpected interactions, different people from different walks of life. I thrive off that kind of energy. I very much miss that.' In search of more space, greenery, a lower infection risk and a school system less vulnerable to Covid-triggered closures, New Yorkers like Bansal have been moving to the suburbs in droves since coronavirus struck the city in March 2020. But as growing demand for suburban living pushes up property prices and new arrivals confront its drawbacks — from isolation and higher property taxes to threatened commuter rail services — the boom in suburban home sales shows signs of slowing." Financial Times' Hugo Cox "PUBLIC ADVOCATE Jumaane Williams is set to nominate a left-wing activist and tenant advocate to the City Planning Commission, The Post has learned. Williams plans to appoint Cea Weaver — campaign coordinator for Housing Justice for All, a statewide coalition of tenant groups — to the 13-person commission. Weaver, 32, has called for rent strikes by tenants and an eviction ban due to COVID-19. 'Cea Weaver is one of New York's leading housing and progressive policy activists who has fought for equity on behalf of individuals and communities alike, and our office is proud to have worked with her in these fights,' Williams' spokesman, William Gerlich, told The Post Saturday." New York Post's Susan Edelman
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