| | | | | |  | | By Erin Durkin and Anna Gronewold with Jonathan Custodio | Presented by FWD.us | Andrew Yang may have aced the New York Times' pop quiz on the price of a home in Brooklyn, but he's had a few stumbles in recent days when trying to demonstrate fluency with the nitty gritty of the city government he's vying to run. At a forum on homelessness issues Thursday, Yang said it would be "extraordinarily helpful" to have specific shelters for victims of domestic violence. Except those shelters already exist, as moderator Courtney Gross of NY1 quickly pointed out. "Oh, no, they — of course they do exist," Yang said, claiming that he was just calling for them to be expanded. Another awkward moment came at a Yang press conference on NYPD policy, when a New York Post reporter asked him if he supported the repeal of 50-a — the state law that kept police disciplinary records secret until it was rolled back last year. The mayoral candidate appeared to draw a blank, until a cop running for City Council appearing with him filled him in, at which point he said he supports more transparency. A day earlier, Yang hosted a press conference on his plan for the city to take over the subway system, but he offered few details and, as the Daily News put it, "instead said his plan was to make a plan." He was also stumped by questions on the MTA's debt. The series of slip-ups is fueling criticism from opponents that Yang, who has acknowledged never voting in a mayoral election before he decided to run himself (as a heckler happily reminded him on Thursday), isn't ready for prime time. "Andrew Yang's ignorance of critical issues facing our city isn't just insulting — it's dangerous," City Comptroller Scott Stringer said. Yang's campaign manager shot back that at least his candidate takes the subway, unlike "the guy who gets chauffeured around in the back of an SUV," in reference to Stringer's government-provided car. Here's the thing: Will voters care? IT'S FRIDAY. 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 yet. WHERE'S BILL? Appearing on WNYC's Brian Lehrer show. ABOVE THE FOLD — "Chris Cuomo took part in strategy calls advising his brother, the New York governor, on how to respond to sexual harassment allegations," by Washington Post's Josh Dawsey and Sarah Ellison: "CNN anchor Chris Cuomo advised his brother, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, and senior members of the governor's staff on how to respond to sexual harassment allegations made earlier this year by women who had worked with the governor, according to four people familiar with the discussions. Cuomo, one of the network's top stars, joined a series of conference calls that included the Democratic governor's top aide, his communications team, lawyers and a number of outside advisers, according to the people familiar with the conversations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the private sessions." | | | | A message from FWD.us: There is an aging crisis in New York prisons. Fifteen percent of people in New York's prisons are at least 55 years old, and this number keeps growing. Unless parole is expanded and made more fair, the State's prisons will become nursing homes, more people will die behind bars, and we'll waste hundreds of millions of dollars that do nothing to keep us safe. Urge Lawmakers to pass Elder Parole and Fair & Timely Parole NOW: www.fwd.us/newyork | | |
|  | WHAT CITY HALL'S READING | | MAGA world weighs in on NYC mayor's race, by POLITICO's Tina Nguyen : "The New York City Democratic mayoral primary is drawing unwanted attention from a place far outside city limits — MAGA country. As eight candidates vie for the post being vacated by Mayor Bill de Blasio — a favorite punching bag for conservatives — right-wing media is showing its fascination with an election that, to many, will serve as a nationwide political referendum over the future of Democratic cities. In the same breath they criticize them for 'woke' identity politics, right-wingers are finding things to like about the two frontrunners — Andrew Yang and Eric Adams. Pundits like Tucker Carlson have expressed their admiration for Adams, the Brooklyn borough president and former police captain who has said he'll carry his firearm as mayor if faced with a credible threat. Former Trump adviser Stephen Miller and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) have voiced support for policies espoused by Yang, the former presidential candidate who became famous for his universal basic income proposal and has shown a libertarian streak." — Yang's blend of celebrity, optimism and outreach have helped endear him with Brooklyn's ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. — "Eric Adams accepts NYC mayoral endorsement from newspaper whose editor attended Capitol riots," by New York Daily News' Michael Gartland " Loeb, Griffin Get Home Visit From NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer," by Bloomberg's Skylar Woodhouse: "Hedge fund managers Ken Griffin and Dan Loeb got a home visit from city Comptroller Scott Stringer on Thursday, who took his mayoral campaign to the steps of the financiers' luxury Manhattan apartments to protest multimillion-dollar donations to candidates running for New York City mayor. 'I am going to protect city government from greedy men,' Stringer said, while standing outside the Central Park high rise of Griffin, the founder and CEO of Citadel. 'I don't think that you should have two billionaires who are now cherry-picking two candidates.' Stringer used the publicity stunt to protest recent donations by Loeb and Griffin to political action committees raising funds for rivals Eric Adams... and Andrew Yang." — Four Freedoms Democratic Club has pulled its endorsement of Scott Stringer in favor of Kathryn Garcia. — The mayoral candidates agree on one thing: No more virtual debates. "They're Reluctant to Get Vaccinated. Will a Knock on the Door Help?" by The New York Times' Joseph Goldstein: "On a recent morning, Tomas Ramos, a community organizer, and two colleagues rode the elevator to the 21st floor of a tower in the Webster Houses, a public-housing project in the Bronx. Working their way down, one floor at a time, they knocked on every door. Sometimes a voice from inside an apartment called out, 'I'm not getting vaccinated.' Other times the person behind the door simply went silent after Mr. Ramos, 34, explained he was signing people up for vaccinations. But on the 13th floor, Biency Paulino answered the door, flanked by her mother and her 5-year-old son, Christopher, who giggled at the sight of strangers during such a lonely year. 'We didn't leave this apartment for two and a half months,' Ms. Paulino, 30, explained, saying her family had been extra-cautious. Still, she explained, they were unlikely to get vaccinated. It was up to God whether or not she got Covid-19, she said, and whether or not she died." — The Bronx Zoo, Brooklyn Children's Museum and New York Aquarium will open vaccination sites and offer free tickets for people who get the shot there. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Manhattan DA candidate Lucy Lang is asking the city Department of Correction to let candidates meet incarcerated voters ahead of the June primary. In a letter to DOC, Lang says she should be allowed to conduct voter outreach at Rikers Island and other jails in person or virtually through video conference. "As you are aware, incarcerated New Yorkers who are in pre-trial custody or convicted of misdemeanors are eligible to vote, and like any voter, deserve to be fully informed about candidates running for office," wrote Lang, a former assistant DA. "It is of particular importance in this election as the decisions the next district attorney makes will have a direct impact on the lives of New Yorkers currently in custody in City jails." — Rev. Al Sharpton and civil rights leaders will launch a campaign on Saturday seeking to boost turnout among Black voters in the June 22 primary election. The effort dubbed Show Up, Turn Out will kick off with a rally at Sharpton's National Action Network headquarters and will provide information about ranked-choice and early voting. They're also releasing a public service announcement encouraging primary voting. "The primary in New York City is the day candidates will be decided for most of our elected offices," Sharpton says. — A political action committee supporting Andrew Yang is out with its first ad as part of a $2 million television campaign. The 30-second spot from Comeback PAC, helmed by political consultant Lis Smith, invokes 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy and how the city rebounded from both. "After the towers fell and the waters rose, New York came back," the narrator says. "And Andrew Yang will help us do it again." The voiceover goes on to say Yang will take on crime, distribute cash to low-income residents and re-open schools, assuming they are not fully in-person by January. The pro-Yang committee is funded by billionaires Jeff Yass, Kenneth Griffin and Daniel Loeb, all supporters of charter schools, along with Peng Zhao, head of Citadel Securities. The ad, which begins running Friday, was produced by Declaration Media. — Joe Anuta — New polling in the city comptroller and Manhattan DA races shows Corey Johnson and Tali Farhadian Weinstein — two moderate Democrats — leading their respective contests more than a month out from the Democratic primary. New Yorkers for a Better Future, the group that commissioned the poll, argues its results show the left is losing its juice in 2021. "Pragmatic Democrats are dominating the primaries," said Jelanie DeShong, the group's executive director. ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Former city sanitation commissioner Kathryn Garcia's underdog mayoral candidacy got a boost from former New York City Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen Thursday evening. Glen, who oversaw housing and economic development in the de Blasio administration, hosted a fundraiser for her former City Hall colleague at the Lower Manhattan offices of her MSquared real estate investment company. Among those in attendance were real estate mogul MaryAnne Gilmartin, Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes and his political activist husband, Sean Eldridge, and former New York City Economic Development Corp. President James Patchett. Garcia delivered remarks focused on her message of improving how government works — a platform she readily admits isn't sexy, but one she says is progressive at its core. Attendee Caitlin Lewis, who works for Glen, said the event pulled in more than $30,000. Garcia has been on the upswing since receiving the New York Times endorsement, but she is trailing candidates Eric Adams, Scott Stringer and Andrew Yang in fundraising. Much of the money raised qualifies for the city's 8-to-1 matching funds program, Lewis said. — Sally Goldenberg | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO WEST WING PLAYBOOK: Add West Wing Playbook to keep up with the power players, latest policy developments and intriguing whispers percolating inside the West Wing and across the highest levels of the Cabinet. 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| | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | "Excelsior Pass rejecting many who have been vaccinated," by Times Union's Brendan J. Lyons: "The rollout of the Excelsior Pass, a digital app designed to enable someone to confirm they have been vaccinated or tested negative for COVID-19, has been plagued with glitches and left many unable to download their digital proof of vaccination. The hiccups in the state's immunization database, which are causing Excelsior Pass registrants to see a dreaded 'We couldn't find your pass' screen appear on the registration website, are apparently being caused by a mix of clerical errors, inconsistent data gathering and the occasional cases in which people with identical names — but different birthdates — are being rejected because the system has merged their identities." — New Yorkers vaccinated next week could win $5 million. "Cuomo calls reporter questions on book deal 'stupid and offensive,'" by Spectrum's Morgan McKay: "Governor Andrew Cuomo pushed back against criticism on his $5.1 million book deal, calling a reporter's questions 'stupid and offensive.' 'The allegations out that you made this money on the backs of dead New Yorkers: How do you respond to that?' a reporter asked the governor during his press briefing in Buffalo. 'That's stupid; next question,' Cuomo retorted. When the reporter later followed up asking why it was stupid that family members who lost loved ones during the pandemic were upset over his book deal, Cuomo said he took issue with the question. 'I thought your question was stupid and offensive,' Cuomo continued." "As NY relaxes its mandate, toddlers in day care now have to mask up," by USA Today Network's Jon Campbell: "On Wednesday, millions of vaccinated people across New York were able to ditch their COVID-era masks in most public settings as the state relaxed its face-covering mandate to align with CDC guidance. Toddlers weren't so lucky. On the very same day, the state Department of Health issued a new set of state rules for child care and summer camps that took many parents and day care operators by surprise. The new rules require young children over the age of two to wear masks while at child care, reversing the state's previous rule that allowed those younger than kindergarten age to go maskless while at day care centers. The new rules, which came after the CDC updated its child care guidance earlier this month, angered some parents and policymakers who say keeping a mask on a preschooler's face is unfeasible." "Mayor Lovely Warren delivers defiant speech on husband's arrest," by Democrat and Chronicle's Victoria E. Freile and Brian Sharp: "Hours after her husband was arrested on felony drug and weapons possession charges, Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren repeatedly questioned the timing and motivations behind her husband's arrest. In a five minute speech outside her City Hall office on Thursday afternoon, Warren spoke out about her family situation, stating that while the pair lived in the same house to co-parent their daughter, they have been legally separated for years. She said in recent hours, she experienced many emotions — confusion, anger, hurt and betrayal. 'I woke up with my daughter in my arms,' Warren said. 'She looked up at me and said, "Mommy, this is not your fault, Don't give up.'" Warren, who was first elected as mayor in 2013 and is seeking her third four-year term as mayor, is facing a criminal trial later this year on allegations of campaign finance fraud." #UpstateAmerica: Bears are back to roaming the Capital Region, as they are wont to do in the spring. Be alert Delmar, and put your bird feeders inside. | | | |   | | |
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | "When can the Canadian border reopen? Schumer has ideas," by Spectrum's Nick Reisman: "Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is making a push with federal officials to reopen the Canadian border, which has been closed to non-essential travel for more than a year in order to prevent international spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Schumer on Thursday in a statement laid out a four-point plan for reopening the border with the Department of Homeland Security that includes a binational deal, clarity for the people who have been displaced by the cycle of closure extensions, support for cross-border tourism programs and boosting support for Customs and Border Protection officers. New York shares a long border to the north and west with Canada, with billions of dollars in commerce exchanged between the country and the state. The border closed to non-essential travel in March 2020." | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TODAY: Power is shifting in Washington and in communities across the country. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. The Recast is a twice-weekly newsletter that explores the changing power dynamics in Washington and breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics and policy in America. Get fresh insights, scoops and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country and hear critical new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | |
| | AROUND NEW YORK | | — Tens of thousands of patients are still scrambling to deal with the fallout between United Healthcare and Montefiore hospital system. — Staffers for city comptroller candidate Brad Lander have formed a union. — The number of homeless people counted living on city streets declined by 38 percent this year. — The "Little Island" park in the Hudson River opens today. — Google will open its first retail store in Chelsea. — Solving the trolley dilemma: A CDTA trolley will deliver vaccines to vulnerable communities in Schenectady County over the next two months. — LeadingAge, which represents non-profit nursing homes, wants the strict Covid testing requirements lifted. — Amazon suspended training on a new three-wheeled cargo e-bike to be used for package delivery in New York City after one toppled onto its side last week during a practice session. — New polling in the city comptroller and Manhattan district attorney races shows Corey Johnson and Tali Farhadian Weinstein leading their respective races. | | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Arthur Brooks … Vox's Rebecca Leber … Edelman's Amy Larkin Long ... Jessica Lahey … Baupost Group's Seth Klarman … CNBC's Steve Liesman … Time's Jeffrey Kluger … Deb Riechmann … Rick Reichmuth of Fox News … City and State's Tom Allon … N.Y. Daily News' Michael Gartland … Mike Viqueira … Mosheh Oinounou … Fred Frommer of Dewey Square … Gillian Reagan … IMF's Ross Rattanasena … Jeffrey Toobin … (was Tuesday): Lily Delaney MAKING MOVES — Ian Prior is now a consultant on the Lee Zeldin gubernatorial campaign. He is CEO of Headwaters Media and executive director of Fight for Schools. MEDIAWATCH — Matthew Hutchinson will be chief comms officer for Dow Jones. He previously was chief comms officer at Forbes. (h/t POLITICO Playbook) … John Biggs left on Thursday as editor in chief of Gizmodo. He is now working on a start-up that will do physical and digital NFT sales on music, writing, art and more. … … Per Talking Biz News: "Miguel Salazar will be joining The New York Times' The Book Review as a fact checker. He comes from The Nation where he was a research director running the fact-checking department and internship program." | | | | A message from FWD.us: There is an aging crisis in New York prisons, and without immediate action more people will die behind bars with no meaningful chance for release. Roughly 4,900 people in New York's prisons are at least 55 years old, the age that the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision considers to be "elderly." Expanding parole eligibility and making the parole process more fair is a critical next step in addressing New York's incarceration crisis and creating pathways for our elders to come home.
New York lawmakers should pass Elder Parole and the Fair & Timely Parole Act to reduce the state prison system's ballooning older population, reunite families, decrease racial disparities in parole decisions, and free up $522 million a year for reinvestment in education, housing, and healthcare. Contact your lawmakers and tell them the time for parole reform is NOW: www.fwd.us/newyork | | |
| | REAL ESTATE | | "First-Ever And 'Long Overdue' Hip Hop Museum Groundbreaking Draws Luminaries To The Bronx," by Gothamist's David Cruz: "The birthplace of hip hop will soon be the birthplace of the world's first museum celebrating the genre. Hip hop royalty converged on a large tract of empty land in the South Bronx, overlooking the Harlem River, for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Universal Hip Hop Museum on Thursday. The event drew a who's who of legendary hip hop artists including Grandmaster Flash, Slick Rick, Chuck D, Nas, LL Cool J, and Fat Joe. City and state officials joined the hip hop luminaries to plant shovels on the ground for the $80 million, 52,000-square-foot museum financed through city, state, and private monies."
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