News: POLITICO New York Playbook: Senate leader says Cuomo must resign — Bridge defects covered up

Monday, March 8, 2021

POLITICO New York Playbook: Senate leader says Cuomo must resign — Bridge defects covered up — NY will get billions from aid bill

Mar 08, 2021

By Erin Durkin and Anna Gronewold with Jonathan Custodio

The latest and by far most consequential call for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign came on Sunday. New York Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins says it's time for the governor to go.

"Everyday there is another account that is drawing away from the business of government. We have allegations about sexual harassment, a toxic work environment, the loss of credibility surrounding the Covid-19 nursing home data and questions about the construction of a major infrastructure project," Stewart-Cousins said in a statement. "New York is still in the midst of this pandemic and is still facing the societal, health and economic impacts of it. We need to govern without daily distraction. For the good of the state Governor Cuomo must resign." Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie echoed her remarks in his own statement .

She spoke out shortly after Cuomo asserted in the strongest terms yet that he has no plans to quit. Cuomo struck a contrite tone last week — his voice even cracking up a bit as he said he was "embarrassed" and apologized for his behavior — but on Sunday the defiant governor we know was back. "There is no way I resign," he said, calling the mere premise of stepping down because of allegations "anti-democratic."

Those allegations continue to mushroom. Two additional women have come forward to say Cuomo behaved inappropriately toward them. Former aide Ana Liss told the Wall Street Journal Cuomo kissed her hand, touched her lower back and called her sweetheart. Karen Hinton tells the Washington Post the governor pulled her in for a hug that was too long and too close. This is all part of a workplace culture a growing number of accounts describe as toxic.

The governor enters the next phase of his fight for his political future with diminished power, after the state Legislature voted on Friday to repeal his emergency authority (though his ability to modify existing orders still gives him significant control over New York's pandemic management). And Attorney General Tish James' investigation still looms: Her office has ordered Cuomo not to delete any documents before she comes calling for evidence.

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.

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WHAT ALBANY'S READING

YET IF CUOMO'S REIGN as "America's governor" has come to an end, it's far less certain that his actual governorship is end-stage . Ralph Northam, the Virginia governor who was on a political death watch following his blackface scandal, survived. So did an on-the-ropes President Bill Clinton, in whose administration Cuomo served during impeachment, giving him an up-close look at how to survive the seemingly unsurvivable. "One thing we've learned from watching Northam and several of these others is if you just don't go anywhere, it's hard to get rid of you," said David Doak, a retired longtime Democratic strategist and ad maker. "The question is, can you withstand the pressure?"

Cuomo is confronting the dual crises with a spartan circle of weary advisers, with some of his more tenured staffers moving in recent days to close ranks, appealing to wavering aides that "we're in this together, this administration has done great work and will continue to do so," according to a former administration official. The Cuomo crisis management playbook now unfolding is essentially a repeat of Clinton's: Do everything possible to focus the public's attention on governing instead of the scandal, and hope to wait out the outrage. "Go buy some time, and hope that things calm down" was how the official described the administration's current approach to overcoming the scandals. The strategy was reflected in a call Cuomo held with reporters on Sunday, in which he said state government has work to do and pledged he is "not going to be distracted." POLITICO's David Siders and Anna Gronewold

"THE STATE GOVERNMENT is expected to get $12 billion from President Biden's coronavirus stimulus plan — but Gov. Cuomo said Sunday he may still have to hike taxes to offset the financial damage caused by the pandemic over the past year. He said the state needed $15 billion to make up the difference. 'Tax increases are on the table … because you have damage to repair,' Cuomo said in a press call with reporters Sunday." The New York Post's Reuven Fenton, Aaron Feis and Mark Moore

"A HIGH-STRENGTH bolt snapped at the threads as an ironworker, Jimmy Jordan, used a torque wrench to tighten it into a steel plate connecting two massive girders. A piece of the broken bolt bounced off an overhang and split his lip open as he looked up. It was January 2016, and Jordan was part of the team constructing the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement at the project's main assembly site along the Hudson River in the Port of Coeymans, about 100 miles north of the bridge. Construction of the $3.9 billion twin span, which would ultimately be named after Gov. Mario M. Cuomo, had been under way for a little more than two years when Jordan's injury led to a series of revelations that would call into question the new bridge's structural safety."

"For the past eight months, the Times Union has burrowed into the state's investigations, the findings of which have remained secret. The newspaper's efforts included interviews with confidential sources and multiple people who worked on the project, and a review of engineering reports, scientific analyses, court records and correspondence on file with the attorney general's office. The newspaper's inquiry has raised questions about the structural integrity of the bridge as well as the thoroughness of the state's inquiries, which languished for several years and did not include interviewing many of the ironworkers and laborers who had first-hand knowledge of the situation. The paper's probe also suggests the posture of the attorney general's office — over the course of four years and three administrations — devolved from seeking an incisive probe of the bolt failures to pursuing an effort to arguably downplay the severity of the allegations, including any potential structural threat to the bridge." Times Union's Brendan J. Lyons

"A ROCHESTER N.Y., police officer tackled and used pepper spray on a woman who had been accused of shoplifting and was with her young daughter last month, according to police body-camera videos of the episode that were released on Friday. It was the latest in a series of violent altercations between officers and Black residents that have heightened racial tensions in the city. The videos of the woman's arrest threatened to further tarnish the reputation of the police department that is already under fire for handcuffing and using a chemical irritant on a 9-year-old girl in January and for the death last year of Daniel Prude, a Black man who died after officers put a hood over his head and pressed his head to the pavement. 'It feels like our officers are out of control,' Mary Lupien, a City Council member, said in an interview." The New York Times' Sarah Maslin Nir

"RESTAURANTS IN all of New York state outside of New York City will be allowed to fill three-fourths of their seats starting March 19 as the state gradually loosens coronavirus restrictions, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday. The move to 75% capacity, up from the current 50%, will take place on the same day that neighboring Connecticut goes to 100% capacity for restaurants, Cuomo said in a conference call with reporters. 'Remember, you have a lot of staff at restaurants, there are a lot of jobs, there are a lot of suppliers, so we'll go to 75%,' Cuomo said. 'We also think that 75% is what the consumer is ready for.' The governor did not indicate that the current 35% limit for restaurants in New York City would rise." AP

#UpstateAmerica: Utica native and National Guard member Vincent Scalise has spent the last two months helping to patrol the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. following the riots. His pastime? Snagging selfies with all 100 U.S. senators.

#UpstateArteryClogs: The birthplace of Rochester's famous Garbage Plate is for sale.

WHAT CITY HALL'S READING

"MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO has been talking to his inner circle and union allies about running for governor, and sources say he is growing increasingly confident he can win. 'I fell out of my chair laughing — he is honestly thinking about it,' said a former senior adviser. 'Because of all this Cuomo s—t, he is feeling bold.' Hizzoner played coy all week when asked if he was eyeing his embattled rival's job. 'The future will take care of itself,' he said, grinning, when a reporter posed the question on Thursday. The public comments are not only intended to rile Gov. Cuomo — but behind closed doors, de Blasio is openly talking with advisers about running against him in a 2022 Democratic primary, multiple insiders said." New York Post's Sara Dorn and Rich Calder

"NEW YORK CITY ground to a halt one year ago as the Covid-19 virus raced through homes and families, upending the lives of its eight million residents. Under orders from Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio, businesses closed, offices emptied and schools went to fully remote learning. Many of the sick died alone. Hundreds of thousands of people were furloughed or lost their jobs. Beyond wearing masks and abiding by the new rules of social distancing, New Yorkers adapted. They had to grieve and socialize on Zoom. They ate and drank under outdoor heaters. Bike ridership boomed. Parents created pandemic pods for their children to play and learn in. About 740,000 city residents had confirmed or probable cases of Covid-19 as of Thursday, according to city health department data, and about 30,000 had died. While state and city officials have slowly eased restrictions and vaccinations have increased, many people still wonder when normal life will return. These are the stories of six New Yorkers reflecting on a year like no other — and what is to come." Wall Street Journal's Paul Berger and Leslie Brody

"MAYOR DE BLASIO unveiled on Friday the first part of a police reform plan that aims to repair frayed relationships with communities of color and address years of racism in policing. The plan, which de Blasio expects to release in three drafts in the coming weeks, comes in response to an executive order issued by Gov. Cuomo in June that mandates local governments approve reforms and submit them by April 1 — or risk losing state funding and having their police departments fall under a monitor." New York Daily News Michael Gartland

ON THE TRAIL — Mayoral hopeful Shaun Donovan says his campaign has hit the fundraising threshold to qualify for taxpayer matching funds. "Thanks to the generous support of voters across our great city, our campaign is fully energized and we are one step closer to bringing the positive change that New York City desperately needs," the former HUD secretary said in a statement announcing he hit the mark, which requires raising a total of $250,000 from at least 1,000 donors who live in the city. The Campaign Finance Board will have to verify everything, and Donovan did not release any fundraising numbers. Among other campaigns, Scott Stringer and Eric Adams have received matching funds. Maya Wiley failed to qualify despite her campaign saying she hit the threshold. Andrew Yang has said he hit the mark, which CFB will have to verify.

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FROM THE DELEGATION

NEW YORK will get $100 billion from the pandemic aid bill passed by the Senate, Sen. Chuck Schumer said Sunday. New York State will get $12.5 billion to plug its massive budget deficit, and New York City will get $6.1 billion — more than the minimums Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio said they needed, Schumer said at a press conference in Manhattan. "I say to beleaguered New Yorkers, help is on the way," the Senate majority leader said. The deal provides $6.5 billion to the MTA, on top of the $8 billion in federal help the transit agency has gotten in two previous stimulus bills. It grants $418 million to JFK, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty and Stewart airports. POLITICO's Erin Durkin

— Instead of searching for bipartisan support and potentially watering down a historic bill that beefs up pensions, health care and crucial unemployment benefits, Schumer rolled the dice on party unity — and succeeded.

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER expressed faith in state Attorney General Tish James' investigation into Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday, but would not say whether the governor should resign. The attorney general has launched a probe into multiple accusations of sexual harassment by Cuomo, who is also embroiled in a scandal over his administration's efforts to conceal the full Covid-19 death toll among nursing homes residents. The governor has faced growing calls for his resignation, as two more women made allegations of inappropriate behavior over the weekend. "The allegations of each of the women has to be taken seriously. They're deeply troubling," Schumer (D-N.Y.) said. "They're being investigated in the very capable hands of the state attorney general...I have a lot of faith in her. I believe that she will turn over every stone, and I believe that she will make sure there is no outside interference, political or otherwise." POLITICO's Erin Durkin

GOV. ANDREW CUOMO'S Covid-19 nursing home scandal is spilling over to Capitol Hill. Senior officials at two federal health agencies will meet as early as next week with House Ways and Means Committee Republican staff about how to improve the tracking of nursing home deaths, according to three sources with direct knowledge. The GOP staff called officials at the Centers for Disease Control and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services after learning that Cuomo, a Democrat, had not disclosed the deaths of thousands of nursing home patients with Covid who were transferred to hospitals and died there. At issue is whether the governor's office intentionally used death data obtained by federal sources that did not include where the deceased lived, two officials said. POLITICO's Erin Banco and Rachel Rubein

AROUND NEW YORK

— State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi and Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou are having "Between Two Ferns"-style conversations about what they really think of Cuomo and Albany. They're calling it "Lit Politics."

— Winter farmers' markets have prospered in Western New York despite the pandemic.

— In his annual State of the City speech, Buffalo Mayor Bryon Brown noted that no city workers were laid off during the pandemic.

— A new billboard in Albany calls out Melissa De Rosa, secretary to the governor.

— Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams attacked Andrew Yang's universal basic income plan.

— AG Tish James said outgoing NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan "actively encouraged" illegal police behavior during the George Floyd protests.

— Rep. Nydia Velazquez endorsed Maya Wiley for mayor.

— New York City movie theaters reopened on Friday.

— Former President Donald Trump is back in town.

— The city is working on a "vaccine passport" for vaccinated New Yorkers to prove their status.

— New York City congressional representatives will re-introduce a bill to ban non-essential helicopter traffic over Manhattan.

— Cuomo got a lot of hate mail after the departure of Andy Byford from the MTA.

— Two NYPD officers were shot and wounded in Brooklyn and are expected to remain in stable condition.

SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Lester Holt … David Malpass is 65 … Bruce R. Lerner … Zack Fink … Kristian Denny Todd … Robert Wolf … Andrew Hughes … Taylor Lustig … Nathaniel Sobel … Larry Fine ... Bill Pendergast … (was Sunday): Michael Eisner … WNYC's Jennifer Hsu … Bloomberg's Lydia Mulvany … Nicole Lapin … Alan Neuhauser … Matt Higginson … Kirk Adams ... Rachel Zuckerman ... Diane Le … Maz Do … Savannah Behrmann …

… (was Saturday): Alan Greenspan turned 95 … David Bradley … John Stossel … NYT's Eileen Murphy … Reuters' Jim Bourg … Armen Keteyian … Jennifer Skyler … Blake Gottesman … Anthony Foti … Joe Perticone … Brooke Gladstone … NFL's Brendon Plack … Kara Carscaden … Chaim Haas

MAKING MOVES — Cheryl Rice is the new director of external relations at the Long Island Contractors Association. She was previously assistant to the Hempstead Town Supervisor.

MEDIAWATCH — "NYT Columnist David Brooks Resigns From Nonprofit After More Evidence Of Conflicts Emerges" — BuzzFeed: "David Brooks has resigned from his position at the Aspen Institute following reporting by BuzzFeed News about conflicts of interest between the star New York Times columnist and funders of a [Weave] program he led for the think tank."

REAL ESTATE

"HEADING into the spring sales season, the housing market in the suburbs of New York has already gone into overdrive, with bidding wars becoming the norm and many homes selling within days of coming on the market. The frenetic sales activity — a second wave after a surge last summer — has been fueled by multiple forces: historically low mortgage rates; pandemic-fatigued city dwellers desperate for more space; and many employers' willingness to embrace remote work, allowing buyers to look in places beyond what would be considered an easy commute. Another major factor: unusually tight inventory, as people hold onto their homes longer, which over the last few months in some suburbs has led to demand outstripping supply for the first time since the pandemic began. Brokers across the region report long lines at open houses, multiple offers coming in as soon as listings go live, and all-cash deals ruling the day. 'This is the strongest market I have seen in two decades,' said Sara Littlefield, an agent in Connecticut with Coldwell Banker." The New York Times' Vivian Marino and C. J. Hughes