| | | | | |  | | By Erin Durkin and Anna Gronewold with Jonathan Custodio | Presented by Uber Driver Stories | A few things are legal in New York state this morning that weren't at this time yesterday: If you're over 21, you can now possess up to three ounces of marijuana. Smoking weed on the street: Also legal! After Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation to legalize pot in New York, it will take at least a year, and maybe more, for legal sales at regulated dispensaries to get up and running. But some parts of the law took effect immediately. While you can't yet legally sell or buy marijuana, if you somehow manage to get your hands on some, you won't face arrest or fines. The state will also begin automatically expunging old convictions for acts that are no longer against the law. In a move that sets it apart from other states that have legalized marijuana, New York is allowing public cannabis use. Basically, smoking pot is now allowed wherever smoking cigarettes has been allowed. That means not in city parks or beaches, where all smoking is banned. Also not within 100 feet of a school, at work, inside restaurants in bars or in a car. NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea, for one, is not a fan of the public smoking rule, warning about people smoking at parades, whenever parades become a thing again. "We get tens and tens and tens of thousands of calls from New Yorkers as it is about people smoking marijuana, hanging out, the quality of life," he told PIX 11. "Now it's not going to be a police matter, and that's troubling." Cities and towns will have the option to regulate public smoking, and to opt out of legal cannabis sales entirely. A few Long Island mayors say they'll be opting out. But Mayor Bill de Blasio is on board with sales in New York City. We're old enough to remember when both de Blasio and Cuomo, who called Wednesday a "historic day," were legal marijuana opponents, but times have changed. De Blasio hailed the action to "right a wrong and legalize marijuana the right way." IT'S THURSDAY. 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 announced public schedule. WHERE'S BILL? Holding a media availability. | | A message from Uber Driver Stories: Meet Fallon. Delivering with Uber Eats helps her pay for college while allowing her the flexibility to fit her schedule around studies. Fallon chooses Uber because, unlike most other gigs, she can control her hours and spend more time focusing on her future. Watch her story in her own words below. | | |
|  | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | "AS THE CORONAVIRUS subsided in New York last year, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo had begun pitching a book proposal that would center on his image as a hero of the pandemic. But by early last summer, both his book and image had hit a critical juncture. Mr. Cuomo leaned on his top aide, Melissa DeRosa, for assistance. She attended video meetings with publishers, and helped him edit early drafts of the book. But there was also another, more pressing edit underway at the same time. An impending Health Department report threatened to disclose a far higher number of nursing home deaths related to the coronavirus than the Cuomo administration had previously made public. Ms. DeRosa and other top aides expressed concern about the higher death toll, and, after their intervention, the number — which had appeared in the second sentence of the report — was removed from the final version. The revisions occurred as the governor was on the brink of a huge payoff: a book deal that ended with a high offer of more than $4 million, according to people with knowledge of the book's bidding process." The New York Times Jesse McKinley, Danny Hakim and Alexandra Alter NEW YORK lawmakers acknowledged on Wednesday that they'll miss the 11:Ä59 p.m. deadline for passing a state budget on time, and there wasn't much certainty about when a deal might be struck. "We will be here the next couple of days," said Sen. Tim Kennedy (D-Buffalo). "We'll be here as much as we have to be," Senate Deputy Leader Mike Gianaris said. Budget Direct Robert Mujica was asked about timing during a NY1 interview on Wednesday morning. "We're going to get it done," he replied. Lawmakers will now focus on getting something on the books before an unpassed budget can cause significant real-world effects. That could start happening early next week. Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office said in an email that most of the state workforce is due to receive their next paychecks on Thursday, April 8. The biggest pieces of the budget would need to be finalized by Monday, April 5 " to avoid any possible delays" in processing those checks. Lawmakers could approve an extender of last year's budget to avoid such problems, but most remain hopeful that won't be necessary. Still, an increasing number of them seem to be pessimistic that anything would be wrapped up by Easter Sunday, as they'd originally hoped. "This is a frustrating time of year where it's a lot more 'hurry up and wait,' with the emphasis on 'wait' until things start to break," said Assemblywoman Pat Fahy (D-Albany). POLITICO's Bill Mahoney, Marie J. French and Anna Gronewold — "Multiple scandals swirling around the Cuomo administration, an impeachment investigation and calls for the governor to resign are not hampering budget talks, Gov. Cuomo's top financial adviser said Wednesday. 'The budget negotiations have been seamless, just like any other year,' Robert Mujica said during a pre-taped interview on NY1. 'We've been meeting with the legislature all day, all night. The governor has been having calls with the leaders regularly.'" Daily News' Denis Slattery LAST YEAR, New York borrowed $4.5 billion in order to keep the government funded after the deadline for federal and state tax payments were pushed to July due to the pandemic. On Wednesday, New York officials said the short-term debt taken on because of the COVID-19 pandemic has been paid off, with a $3.5 billion payment approved. 'This is a result of the disciplined approach this administration has brought to New York's finances during the last decade and the flexibility it built into our budget as we confronted the worst economic crisis in a generation,' Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement." Spectrum's Nick Reisman "IT'S NOT just the general public that's in the dark on details of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's book deal: Even some members of the state Joint Commission on Public Ethics are having trouble getting information. For the past six weeks, JCOPE Commissioner Gary Lavine has been trying to get JCOPE's new chair, Camille Joseph Varlack, to provide commissioners with additional information about the publication of the book, 'American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic.' JCOPE commissioners are supposed to have oversight of New York public officials' requests to earn outside income. Lavine, an appointee of state Senate Republicans, told the Times Union that Varlack's response has been that she's still getting up to speed in her new role — and has not provided anything yet. 'It's a gigantic taffy pull – just stretch out everything,' Lavine said. 'And that's what Varlack is doing.' JCOPE commissioners never voted to approve Cuomo's book deal. Instead, last summer, the governor's request was approved solely by the commission's staff." Times Union's Chris Bragg WSJ Opinion: 'An Auschwitz Survivor Dies in a New York Nursing Home' "Felicia Friedman survived the Nazis. She survived the Red Army, dodging her way across Eastern Europe aifter World War II. She survived immigration and a new life in America. The only thing she didn't survive was a Long Island nursing home infected with Covid-19. In the end, she died as a result of bureaucratic bungling when Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration allowed Covid-19 patients to be moved to nursing homes — stealing from us a treasure of historical memory." #UpstateAmerica: The University at Buffalo launched the "WNY Vaccine Hound," a pup (a volunteer website) that helps Western New Yorkers navigate the search for nearby vaccine appointments. | | | | JOIN THE CONVERSATION, SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" Power dynamics are shifting in Washington, and more people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that all politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. "The Recast" is a new twice-weekly newsletter that breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics, policy and power in America. Get fresh insights, scoops and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country and hear from new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out on our latest newsletter, SUBSCRIBE NOW. Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | |
| | WHAT CITY HALL'S READING | | "AT WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S GOP mayoral debate, it was hard to tell whether the two contenders on stage had more contempt for city Democrats or for each other. Curtis Sliwa, the controversial founder of the Guardian Angels, contemptuously called his rival Fernando Mateo 'a de Blasio Republican,' saying Mateo had illegally raised campaign funds for the incumbent mayor. Using a Trumpism, Mateo called the allegation 'fake news.' 'You know what? I have enough dirt to cover your body 18 feet over!' Mateo exploded, going on to list scurrilous allegations against Sliwa. 'People don't want to hear all that.' The tone of the debate didn't improve from there." New York Daily News' Shant Shahrigian "EVEN AS much of the rest of the country has had a reprieve, New York City has remained a coronavirus hot spot, with new cases holding level, often at about 25,000 a week. As variants and vaccinations have taken hold, public health experts have debated what to call the current, confusing phase of the epidemic, when cases remain alarmingly high, but hope is drawing nearer. 'The term I've been using is 'high plateau',' said Dr. Jay Varma, a senior adviser for public health at City Hall. 'We're basically trying to come down off of our second wave and what we're trying desperately to do is prevent a third wave.'" The New York Times' Sharon Otterman and Joseph Goldstein — More contagious variants are now 70 percent of cases in the city. "AFTER SUFFERING a long and difficult battle with COVID, City Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria) announced Wednesday he'll be stepping down from elected office to take a job heading a non-profit. Constantinides, the head of the Council's Environmental Protection Committee, came down with coronavirus early on in the pandemic. Since then, he has been open with his struggles with the disease, as his wife has also faced her own health challenges. 'My time in office has not been without heartbreak and challenges at home. My wife has not been well for a long time and her condition has deteriorated over the last seven years,' the Queens councilman said Wednesday ... Constantinides plans to resign from the Council officially on April 9 to take over as CEO of the Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens." New York Daily News' Michael Gartland "THE NYPD will interview at least one person of color for every senior opening in its ranks, under a new order from Mayor de Blasio, the latest in a series of police reforms. The order signed Wednesday applies to applicants from 'a race that is underrepresented in senior positions' starting with the position of captain. It covers precinct commanders, too. 'Although there's been real progress in ensuring diversity in the leadership of the NYPD, there's more work to be done,' Hizzoner said at a press conference." New York Daily News' Shant Shahrigian ON THE TRAIL — ZACH ISCOL is back on the city's petition ledger after the Board of Elections placed his comptroller candidacy forms on its "defect list" Wednesday for allegedly not listing his party affiliation in the right place, according to the campaign. The campaign noted it was not provided any explanation by the BOE as to why it was placed on the list in the first place. "We appreciate the Board of Elections fixing their error quickly," said campaign manager Sam Rivers. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — UNITE HERE Local 100 is endorsing Tahanie Aboushi for Manhattan district attorney, the first time the union has made an endorsement in a DA's race. Secretary-treasurer Jose Maldonado said the civil rights lawyer, who is running in a crowded Democratic primary field to replace Cy Vance, "will work hard to bring the necessary changes to transform the justice system." The nod follows her endorsement earlier this week by Rep. Jamaal Bowman. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK ON APRIL 1 — Mayoral candidate Shaun Donovan today is releasing a 205-page plan to tackle an issue that has been front of mind for New Yorkers for well over a decade: Reforming the New York Jets. Donovan, the former Bloomberg housing czar and Obama budget director, is proposing an ambitious infrastructure plan to take the Jets back from New Jersey and build the "Rich Kotite Stadium" on Governors Island, adjacent to the "Andrew Yang Hotel & Casino" which Donovan envisions can be built simultaneously. He also proposes a Jets-centric monorail to be constructed along the Ronkonkoma line from Long Island, along with a series of new bridges and tunnels between Manhattan and the Garden State. According to a statement from Team Donovan, previewed exclusively by POLITICO, the would-be mayor's plan is born of years of disappointment and regret: "Remember in 2000? When new Jets Head Coach Bill Belichick took over the reins, but walked away just days into the job to lead the New England Patriots, and ushered in the Eric Mang-genius era, Rex Ryan foot-capades, and Adam Gase's most recent administration? Shaun Donovan remembers." | | | |   | | |
| | Scranton on the Hudson | | "BUFFALO's highway relics — including the Skyway, the Scajaquada and the Kensington — could finally be fixed. The lead water pipes that serve thousands of city homes could be replaced with something safer. Derelict housing could be retrofitted for modern times. And every corner of Western New York, from city neighborhoods to the rural hinterlands, could finally get high-speed internet. Such are the local ramifications of President Joe Biden's $2.25 trillion infrastructure plan, which he unveiled Wednesday in Pittsburgh. It's the sort of bricks-and-mortar reinvestment program that Rep. Brian Higgins, a Buffalo Democrat, has been proposing for a decade." Buffalo News' Jerry Zremski | | TRUMP'S NEW YORK | | "STATE PROSECUTORS in Manhattan investigating former President Donald J. Trump and the Trump Organization have subpoenaed the personal bank records of the company's chief financial officer and are questioning gifts he and his family received from Mr. Trump, according to people with knowledge of the matter. In recent weeks, the prosecutors have trained their focus on the executive, Allen H. Weisselberg, in what appears to be a determined effort to gain his cooperation. Mr. Weisselberg, who has not been accused of wrongdoing, has overseen the Trump Organization's finances for decades and may hold the key to any possible criminal case in New York against the former president and his family business. Prosecutors working for the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., are examining, among other things, whether Mr. Trump and the company falsely manipulated property values to obtain loans and tax benefits." The New York Times' Ben Protess, William K. Rashbaum, Jonah E. Bromwich and Maggie Haberman | | | | JOIN PLAYBOOK TODAY FOR A CONVERSATION WITH RON KLAIN : The Biden administration is full speed ahead with an ambitious vaccination timeline, the deployment of $1.9 trillion in pandemic relief, and a multitrillion dollar infrastructure plan. But the White House is also dealing with a mounting crisis at the border, the aftermath of back-to-back mass shootings, and a looming showdown over the Senate filibuster. Join Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza for a conversation with White House chief of staff Ron Klain to discuss Biden's agenda in the coming months and how the administration plans to address the challenges facing the nation. REGISTER HERE. | | | | |
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | "NEW YORK REP. Carolyn Maloney announced Wednesday that she will run for reelection next year, prompting her perennial primary opponent to unveil plans to challenge her for a third time. The 75-year-old Manhattan Democrat — who has been in Congress since 1993 and currently serves as the chairwoman of the powerful House Oversight Committee — said in a statement that she knows 'how to get things done,' citing her work over the decades on a range of legislation, from helping 9/11 survivors to delivering coronavirus stimulus checks to New Yorkers … Maloney's 2022 campaign launch was quickly met with a rematch announcement from Surarj Patel, a Manhattan attorney who unsuccessfully challenged the congresswoman in the 2018 and 2020 primaries." New York Daily News' Chris Sommerfeldt | | AROUND NEW YORK | | — MOUNT VERNON's gonna Mount Vernon: The comptroller allegedly called the police on the mayor for "storming" her office. — An appeals court ruled that the freedom of information law requires de Blasio to turn over to the New York Times a private warning letter he received from the city Conflicts of Interest Board. — A homeless man arrested in a violent attack on a Filipino woman in Midtown was out on parole for killing his mother. — Art critics aren't upset about near-empty museums. — Coney Island's Deno's Wonder Wheel park will reopen on April 9. — Schenectady is back to reviewing the use of knee holds by police officers to restrain suspects. — Addiction recovery advocates don't think New York is ready for opioid settlement money. — The Department of Environmental Conservation is referring the Cohoes-area Norlite dust violations to the state Attorney General's office. — Long-term solitary confinement in the state's prisons and jails is slated to end next March. | | A message from Uber Driver Stories: As a woman of color, Fallon's number one priority is to better herself through her education. And that means finishing her bachelor's degree in business.
At first, Fallon tried to go down the traditional route of working part-time. But she says it didn't offer the flexible schedule that she needed.
"I like the flexibility of driving with Uber," she says. "I can drive when I want to."
With Uber, Fallon can choose when, where, and how long she wants to drive. If she has an exam that needs her attention, she doesn't have to worry about asking her boss or requesting time off—she can take the time she needs on her terms.
To see more stories like Fallon's, click here.
*Driver earnings may vary depending on location, demand, hours, drivers, and other variables. | | |
| | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) is 45 … Rachel Maddow is 48 … NYT's Michael Crowley … Julia Hahn … Mother Jones' Ali Breland … Bloomberg's Kait Bolongaro … Facebook's Max Segan … Edelman's Nicholas Rozzo and Pranav Shankla MAKING MOVES: The NYC District Council of Carpenters named Kevin Elkins its new director of political actions. He was previously campaign manager and district director for former Staten Island Rep. Max Rose. … Kenneth Londoño, formerly of BerlinRosen, is now the director of strategic communications at BlueState. MEDIAWATCH: The New York Daily News is withholding previously promised bonuses to employees, citing their efforts to unionize. | | REAL ESTATE | | "NEW YORK CITY'S battered hotel industry hopes more visitors will return starting April 1st, when domestic travelers no longer have to quarantine after entering New York from another state or territory. The state's quarantine policies started last June, when Gov. Andrew Cuomo required visitors from states with high rates of COVID-19 positivity tests to isolate for 14 days upon arrival. The quarantine period expiring on April 1st is only three days long. Vijay Dandapani. president and CEO of Hotel Association of New York City, predicted this change will provide a boost to domestic travel, 'both business and tourist, as short trips of less than four days were not possible with the quarantine.'" WNYC's Beth Fertig
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