News : POLITICO New York Playbook: How a socialist won the Buffalo mayor’s race — NYC waiting game

Thursday, June 24, 2021

POLITICO New York Playbook: How a socialist won the Buffalo mayor’s race — NYC waiting game — State of emergency lifts

Jun 24, 2021

By Erin Durkin, Anna Gronewold and Téa Kvetenadze

Presented by Equinor

While New York City elevated a moderate Democrat to the top of its mayoral field, the state's second-largest city is jumping further to the left.

On Wednesday, while many candidates across the state geared up to wait days or weeks for final results, The Associated Press called the Buffalo mayoral primary for India Walton, a 38-year-old nurse and activist who ran with the backing of the Democratic Socialists of America and the Working Families Party.

She ousted incumbent Byron Brown, 62, who didn't mount much of a campaign this year and declined to debate his opponent.

It was a combination of a lot of forces, our Bill Mahoney reports, including a candidate who is deeply connected to a dissatisfied community, a targeted WFP campaign that contrasted with Brown's, and some smaller inroads in Brown's traditional strongholds that ultimately added up.

Should Walton go on to win the general election in November — the likely scenario in the big blue city — she would become the first socialist mayor of a large American city since Milwaukee's Frank Zeidler, who left office in 1960.

A lot of people have considered moving Upstate over the past 18 months for a lot of reasons. But a new incentive for Brooklynites to relocate to Buffalo might be a socialist mayor they won't see in NYC this cycle, and that's a twist we didn't expect.

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? No public schedule.

WHERE'S BILL? Holding a media availability and speaking at a Puerto Rican heritage event.

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WHAT CITY HALL'S READING

"Each claiming a path to victory, Maya Wiley and Kathryn Garcia still in mayoral race," by NY1's Courtney Gross : "Maya Wiley isn't conceding. She may be trailing Eric Adams by about 75,000 votes. That said, she says this race isn't over. 'We're gonna wait, but wait patiently until every vote is counted so every New Yorker counts,' Wiley said on Wednesday outside of the Parkside subway station in Brooklyn. Both Wiley and Kathryn Garcia, who is in third place according to preliminary election night results, are saying they can still win this race — potentially surpassing Eric Adams when the Board of Elections tabulates ranked-choice voting picks next Tuesday. Both of their paths to victory are unclear and incredibly narrow."

— "How Adams Built a Diverse Coalition That Put Him Ahead in the Mayor's Race," by The New York Times' Emma G. Fitzsimmons: "His strong showing reflected a broad, old-school political coalition that united Black and Latino voters, unions and a broad swath of the city outside Manhattan. Mr. Adams, the Brooklyn borough president, won handily in the Bronx and led in his home borough of Brooklyn and in Queens. In some parts of the city like Jamaica in Southeast Queens, Mr. Adams won more than 60 percent of votes, compared with 15 percent for his closest rival."

— The mayoral primary results so far, mapped.

— Wall Street is pretty happy with the early results. And Cuomo is really looking forward to a new mayor.

— " GOP mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa promises to bring the fight to Democratic front-runner Eric Adams," by New York Daily News' Shant Shahrigian

How Andrew Yang went from rock star to also-ran, by POLITICO's Sally Goldenberg and Tina Nguyen: Andrew Yang burst into the New York City mayor's race with strong name recognition, high-profile endorsers and a relentlessly positive message of rebirth for a city torn apart by tragedy. On Tuesday, the published author and entrepreneur — who made a name for himself with a longshot presidential run — limped to a distant fourth-place finish in the crowded field of Democratic candidates looking to replace outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio... It was a disappointing finish for someone who spent much of the race in a comfortable lead. When he launched his campaign in January, during the Covid-19 pandemic's second wave, Yang was the most famous candidate by far. He topped his competitors in name recognition and quickly amassed a campaign warchest that allowed him to spend more than $8 million on the race.

— Scott Stringer once thought he'd be mayor of New York. Then scandal arrived, by POLITICO's Erin Durkin and Jesse Naranjo: When Scott Stringer took the stage on primary night, he sounded like a man who had come to the end of something. He thanked supporters of his mayoral campaign "for giving me the best 29 years in elected office anyone could ever have." In the end, those decades in local politics and years of careful preparation for a mayoral bid amounted to a fifth place, single-digit finish in election night returns. Stringer, the city comptroller who was considered a presumptive frontrunner at the beginning of the Democratic primary, saw his campaign crash and burn after two women came forward to accuse him of sexual misconduct.

Can't buy me love: How record outside spending played in the mayor's race, by POLITICO's Joe Anuta: Outside special interest groups spent a record amount of cash in the New York City mayor's race this year — almost triple the amount spent in the last competitive primary in 2013 — but in most cases the investment was an unqualified dud. All told, political action committees spent nearly $25 million on broadcast, radio and digital advertising, according to data from AdImpact. But the money did little to improve the electoral fortunes of many candidates in the crowded field. In fact, some of the highest-dollar splurges went toward candidates who never got out of the single digits, according to preliminary vote counts Tuesday night. But as the race entered its final stretch, deep-pocketed donors, sensing an Eric Adams path to victory, cut big checks to the candidate — setting the stage for conflicts of interest if he emerges from the ranked-choice voting gauntlet and heads to City Hall owing favors.

With races too close to call, the tenor of the next Council remains uncertain, by POLITICO's Joe Anuta: The Democratic Socialists of America's bid to gain a foothold in the City Council appeared far from assured after the polls closed Tuesday night and New Yorkers began a potentially weekslong wait for the political bent of the legislative branch to come into focus. With more than two-thirds of the body term-limited, Tuesday's historic election will usher in a dramatically different city legislature to chart the city's course out of the economic and social wreckage of the pandemic. The full results will not be known until the city's Board of Elections receives absentee ballots and begins the ranked-choice voting tabulations for any race where a majority winner was not crowned.

But a few outcomes seemed clear: It was a good night for incumbents with the exception of Council Members Alicka Ampry-Samuel and Darma Diaz, two Brooklyn lawmakers who appeared to lose to challengers. Harlem's Bill Perkins, was also only narrowly ahead. Several open races, including a Bronx seat where Marjorie Velázquez won a majority, were decided or appeared close to over. DSA-backed Tiffany Cabán — who narrowly lost a race for Queens district attorney in 2019 — was one of the candidates to come within striking distance of an outright win in an open district, netting just under 50 percent of the vote.

— The Council is likely to have many more women members, as well as its first South Asian representative.

"Antonio Reynoso leads in Brooklyn borough president primary, other borough races remain tight ," by New York Daily News' Dave Goldiner: "City Councilman Antonio Reynoso grabbed a strong lead Wednesday in the Democratic primary race for Brooklyn borough president, with primary races in the four other boroughs still considered tossups. Reynoso, 38, was leading with 28% of the vote — well ahead of Councilman Robert Cornegy who had 19% and Assemblywoman Jo-Anne Simon who had about 17% of the vote. Several other candidates were trailing... In Queens, incumbent Borough President Donovan Richards held a very narrow lead of about 1% over former Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, with both scoring more than 40% of the Democratic vote. In the Bronx, Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson was leading the Democratic race with 39% of the vote over fellow Councilman Fernando Cabrera, who had 34%. The crowded Manhattan borough president race was too close to call with uptown Councilman Mark Levine edging out State Sen. Brad Hoylman of Chelsea by three points."

— "Vito Fossella in dead heat for comeback bid as Staten Island borough president," by New York Post's Carl Campanile: "Making a comeback bid, disgraced ex-Congressman Vito Fossella was locked in a battle for first place with Councilman Steven Matteo on Tuesday night in the Republican primary for Staten Island borough president, according to unofficial election results."

"Brooklyn Councilman Unites Progressives to Lead Comptroller's Race," by The New York Times' Jeffery C. Mays: "As Maya Wiley fought to unite progressives to catch the presumed front-runner, Eric Adams, in the New York City Democratic primary for mayor, Brad Lander was doing the same in another citywide contest, for comptroller. Members of the city's progressive movement have had success in capturing City Council, state legislative and congressional seats over the past few years, but they have struggled to stretch that influence across the five boroughs in citywide races."

"THE WOMEN REOPENING AMERICA" – HAPPENING TODAY: With more than 100 million people vaccinated against Covid-19, a strengthening economy and relaxed Covid restrictions on businesses and public gatherings, America is on a path to fully reopening. What policies and systemic changes can help women recover from the disproportionate impact of the pandemic? Join today for a "Women Rule" conversation with leading women who are playing a pivotal role in determining what normal will look like for business, politics, schools and the workplace. REGISTER HERE.

WHAT ALBANY'S READING

"New York is ending its COVID-19 state of emergency. What it means," by USA Today Network's Joseph Spector: "New York will end a COVID-19 state of emergency on Thursday after it was first put in place in March 2020. The decision, announced Wednesday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, marks the latest loosening of restrictions and orders caused by the pandemic that killed about 53,630 people in New York, second only in the nation to California. 'The emergency is over,' Cuomo said at a Manhattan briefing. 'It's time for a new chapter.' Cuomo has been able to use executive powers to retain a state of emergency in New York, giving him the authority to make decisions about business closures and COVID safety protocols, such as mask wearing and social distancing."

— LAST CALL for takeout booze. The State Liquor Authority confirmed that the temporary regulations will lapse after today. The Legislature had the chance to make the rules permanent, but couldn't close the deal by the end of session earlier this month.

— " New York to start returning state workers to the office as COVID rates drop," by USA Today Network's Jon Campbell: "New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office will soon require state employees to work in the office on a more-regular basis, with state agencies required to return their in-person workforce to pre-pandemic levels by Sept. 7. The Governor's Office of Employee Relations issued a memo late last week laying out return-to-work protocols for the state's executive agencies and authorities, which employ more than 113,000 workers statewide and have allowed many employees to telecommute during the COVID-19 pandemic. From July 2 through Sept. 7, each agency will be required to return more employees to the workplace for at least several days per pay period, with a goal of having most of them full-time, according to the memo. By Sept. 7, state workers will be required to report to the office as they did prior to the pandemic, with limited exceptions."

"With summer in full swing, state Park Police worry about their future," By Times Union's Rick Karlin: "Word earlier this year that the state Department of Environmental Conservation planned a new training academy in 2022 to replenish the ranks of forest rangers and environmental conservation officers was welcomed by outdoor enthusiasts, environmental organizations, and as well as the rangers themselves...But it remains unclear when the next training academy will be scheduled for new State Park Police officers. There are about 200 Park Police officers, compared to 265 a few years ago. Their last academy was in 2019. The uncertainty is compounded by the fact that the Park Police force's future remains cloudy, even though the agency has been under the command of the much larger State Police force since 2019."

#UpstateAmerica: Warren County is giving away a 125-year-old bridge over the Schroon River, 87 feet by 13 feet, "cast-iron pony truss style." It's historic, and ALL YOURS if you can provide a plan for relocation, rehabilitation and reuse.

AROUND NEW YORK

— New York City subway riders are likely to face delays and disruptions for months because of staff shortages caused by a hiring freeze during the Covid-19 pandemic.

— The city public hospital system gave its one millionth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

— Police have identified a suspect in the stabbing of an Eric Adams campaign volunteer.

— A Hyde Park woman won $10 million in a scratch off.

— Reopening restaurants are encountering supply problems.

— The MTA's paratransit service has become less reliable.

— The transit authority is also mulling reopening some subway bathrooms.

— Locals voiced their unambiguous opposition to the proposed SoHo/NoHo rezoning plan at a chaotic public meeting.

— Republican mayoral hopeful Curtis Sliwa showed off his 15 rescue cats.

— The city will begin installing curbside charging ports for electric vehicles for the first time later this year.

— The iconic show "Stomp" held open auditions for the first time since before the pandemic in a sign that off-Broadway is rebounding.

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SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: U.S. Chamber's Suzanne Clark … Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Jeffrey Prescott … Nelson Peltz is 79 ... Herbert C. Klein … Sy Sternberg … Rich Eisen … MSNBC's Omnika Thompson … former New York Gov. George Pataki … WSJ's Jennifer Maloney … Edelman's Kevin Goldman … Allie Bradford ... Katherine Marie Kulik ... Quartz's Zach Seward … Tyler Somes … Morgan Feist

MEDIAWATCH — Alex Ward will join POLITICO as a national security reporter and author of a new "National Security Daily" newsletter. He most recently has covered the White House for Vox.

MAKING MOVES — Mary Baskerville is now a manager of external affairs at Philip Morris International. She most recently worked for Mastercard's Center for Inclusive Growth and is a Clinton Foundation and Obama administration alum.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Matt Mowers, who runs a consulting firm advising non-profits, start-ups and companies and is also a Trump administration alum, and Cassie Spodak, senior producer for CNN, on Sunday (Father's Day!) welcomed Jackson "Jack" Samuel Mowers, who came in at 8 pounds 9 ounces and 20 3/4 inches. He is named after his great-grandfathers. Pics

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REAL ESTATE

"Modest Rent Increases Approved for 2.3 Million N.Y.C. Tenants," by The New York Times' Matthew Haag ; "The powerful board that determines rent for New York City's 1.2 million rent-stabilized apartments approved a modest increase on rents on Wednesday — a compromise between tenant groups that wanted to freeze rates and landlords who sought sizable increases. The panel, the Rent Guidelines Board, voted 5 to 4 that on one-year leases, landlords must maintain current rents for the first six months of the lease but may increase it by 1.5 percent for the next six months. On two-year leases, landlords may increase rent up to 2.5 percent. The new rates take effect in October. 'Though the city's recovery has begun, it is lagging behind the rest of the country,' said Alex Schwartz, a board member. 'This proposal is intended to provide additional time for an economic recovery before any rent increase goes into effect.'"

"City Approves Landmarks Honoring Chinese Americans and Native Americans," by The New York Times' Zachary Small: "City officials on Tuesday voted unanimously to designate an Indigenous archaeological site on the South Shore of Staten Island and the Kimlau War Memorial in Chinatown in Manhattan as protected landmarks. 'We have been working very hard to ensure that we are telling the story of all New Yorkers and representing the city's diversity,' said Sarah Carroll, the chair of the commission, adding that her agency would continue 'drilling down into history in ways that haven't been done in the past.' More than five decades after the city began to assign landmark status to sites, only a small portion of its roughly 37,000 properties recognize the contributions of communities of color."

"Council Votes to Make Racial Impact Studies Part of NYC Land Use Process," by City Limits' David Brand: "Following years of advocacy, the New York City Council passed legislation Thursday that would force the city to assess the racial and ethnic impact of land use proposals that reshape existing communities. The measure would specifically require the city to create an 'equitable development data tool' to report an area's racial, ethnic and income-level demographics while analyzing housing security, local quality of life, neighborhood affordability and other factors. The analysis would help determine the likelihood of a land use overhaul displacing long-time residents. Residents of low- to middle-income communities of color have resisted various neighborhood-level land use applications which they say will fuel gentrification and increase rents."

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