News : POLITICO New York Playbook: Adams’ inner circle — Cuomo’s Covid-19 death count ‘a little strange’

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

POLITICO New York Playbook: Adams’ inner circle — Cuomo’s Covid-19 death count ‘a little strange’ — Sunday haircuts, decriminalized

Jul 14, 2021

By Erin Durkin, Anna Gronewold and Téa Kvetenadze

Let the transition games begin. It's a good bet Eric Adams will be the next mayor of New York City, and he isn't waiting until the general election to start shoring up an administration. Sally Goldenberg and Joe Anuta break down the potential prelim rounds:

THE TEAM: Top campaign advisers — labor operative Katie Moore and consultants Nathan Smith and Evan Thies — are staying put for now, according to an Adams representative. They'll join Deputy Borough President Ingrid Lewis-Martin, who has described herself as Adams' "sister ordained by God," in laying the groundwork for an Adams City Hall.

Brooklyn Democratic Party counsel Frank Carone is Adams' personal attorney and, along with lobbyist Vito Pitta, will likely have a role in putting together the pieces of a new administration. State assemblymember and Brooklyn party head Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn said she's hoping to lend a hand to the transition effort as well.

Adams has been seeking outside advice too, from Eagle Academy Foundation head David Banks; Sheena Wright, head of United Way of New York; and former NYPD Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, according to his team.

THE RECRUITS: Politicians who endorsed Adams such as Bronx Borough President Rubén Diaz Jr. and City Council Members Laurie Cumbo and Ydanis Rodriguez are reportedly being considered for City Hall jobs. Two Borough Hall staffers close to Adams — Stefan Ringel and Ryan Lynch — are likely to be offered administration positions as well, a source told POLITICO.

Adams' camp has reached out to the private sector, including Google external affairs head William Floyd, combing for resumes and chats. He's also said he wants to hire a female police commissioner and NYPD Chief of Patrol Juanita Holmes is among three candidates under consideration.

THE PASSING OF THE TORCH? Adams has five months before the general election to get a tentative team in place, and at an event last month he said he wants Bill de Blasio's help. He called on the mayor to begin making commissioners available to both his team and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.

"We can't wait until the election is over and say we want to start from scratch," Adams said. "On July 13 we should sit down and start a smooth transition to what this city is going to look like. My team is going to be ready to do so."

IT'S WEDNESDAY. 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, but we're hearing about an event on curbing gun violence in New York City with special guest Eric Adams.

WHERE'S BILL? Holding a media availability.

ABOVE THE FOLD — " Democrats unveil $3.5T go-it-alone plan to fulfill Biden's agenda," by POLITICO's Caitlin Emma and Jennifer Scholtes: Senate Democrats announced a top line budget number late Tuesday that will propel their plan to enact the full array of President Joe Biden's social welfare and family aid promises without Republican votes. The proposal sets an overall limit of $3.5 trillion for the spate of Democratic policy ambitions that won't make it into a bipartisan infrastructure deal, if Congress can reach one... Democrats' massive party-line package is expected to include policies like Biden's proposal for two years of free community college, paid leave, health care subsidies, extending the boosted child tax credit and helping families cover child care costs.

STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.

WHAT CITY HALL'S READING

"New York's Commitment to Gateway Project Unclear As Urgency Grows," by WNYC's Stephen Nessen: "After years of delay and a broken promise from the Trump administration, the Gateway Project to build a new Hudson River train tunnel and repair the existing, Sandy-damaged one is poised to move forward with federal support from both President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. But as an August deadline looms to confirm local funding commitments, it's now Governor Cuomo who could be holding up the 10-year, $11 billion tunnel project because he has yet to agree to New York's share.

"At a meeting Monday, in which representatives from both states and the Port Authority convened, Gateway Development Corporation Chairman Steven Cohen dismissed concerns that Cuomo would withhold New York's share of funding. Cohen said he was confident that New York, New Jersey, and the Port Authority would finalize their funding commitments, and send those documents to federal officials by the August 27th deadline... Cuomo, however, has thrown cold water on the latest tunnel repair plan, repeatedly citing expedited work on the MTA's Carnarsie tunnel repairs as a possible model for Gateway."

"NYC's next mayor faces $5.4B budget deficit after de Blasio adds another $300M," New York Post's Nolan Hicks and Bruce Golding: "Mayor Bill de Blasio is leaving his successor a budget with a $5.4 billion deficit, as he and the City Council have added another $300 million in hiring to the Big Apple's payroll, according to a new analysis Tuesday. The spending — which will be used to fund about 4,000 jobs — was quietly included in the $98.7 billion 2022 fiscal year budget that the City Council approved last month, a report by Citizens Budget Commission found. The move reversed a hiring freeze that de Blasio included in his January spending plan, according to the CBC. It also adds to the $5.1 billion budget deficit that the CBC projected last month. The new workers would help swell the city's workforce cap to an all-time high of 337,294, just shy of what was anticipated before the COVID-19 pandemic wrecked the Big Apple's economy, the CBC said."

"Manual Recount Likely in Race for Bill Perkins' Council Seat, BOE Says," by THE CITY's Rachel Holliday Smith: "An extremely tight City Council race in Harlem is on track for a hand recount. Only 104 votes now separate incumbent Bill Perkins from Kristin Richardson Jordan, a political newcomer who has a slight edge over the longtime politician, the Board of Elections revealed Tuesday after adding new absentee ballots to its primary tally. That difference — just 0.4% of the total votes cast in the race — is within the 0.5% threshold mandated by state law for an automatic manual recount. Voters cast a total of 25,626 ballots in the race, BOE records show. In the BOE's initial release of first-choice votes after the primary, Perkins — who former staffers say has suffered from apparent memory issues for years and surprised some observers by even running for reelection — came out on top. But the 71-year-old politician was ultimately overtaken by Jordan, 34, in subsequent tallies. The BOE said the race is the only contest in the city that would likely need to go to a recount following New York's June 22 primary."

"Amid losing pattern, city comptroller may not be a good stepping stone for higher office," by NY1's Juan Manuel Benitez: "We have to travel far back to 1974 to find a New York City Comptroller ascending to the office of mayor. It was Abe Beame, who managed the city during four turbulent years and then lost his re-election. Five of the six comptrollers after him have tried the same political promotion to no avail, starting with his successor as fiscal watchdog, Harrison Goldin, and ending with the current occupant of the office, Scott Stringer. 'City jobs are tough launching platforms,' explained Elizabeth Holtzman, a former city comptroller. 'Not to say impossible, but tough. I don't think there's a curse, but there definitely isn't a blessing.' Holtzman became the first female city comptroller in 1990, after having served in the U.S. Congress."

Q&A WITH ALVIN BRAGG: "Restorative Justice Requires an 'All-of-the-Above Approach,'" by Ankush Khardori for The American Prospect: "We need to address the urgency, but not with old tools.... We want to have smart prosecutions. My theory of prosecutions is you follow the money; it will take you to the most culpable person. On gun trafficking, there are people sitting far afield profiting off of guns coming into Manhattan. We also have an all-of-the-above type of approach. We've got great Cure Violence groups. We need to invest in them — folks who are literally running to the fire when there's an event to prevent a retaliation. We also have to use traditional law enforcement as well. Someone's discharging a gun — that's something that's got to be prosecuted. "

WHAT ALBANY'S READING

"New York takes conservative approach counting virus deaths," by The Associated Press's Marina Villeneuve: "The federal government's count of the COVID-19 death toll in New York has 11,000 more victims than the tally publicized by the administration of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, which has stuck with a far more conservative approach to counting virus deaths. The discrepancy in death counts continued to widen this year, according to an Associated Press review, even as the Democrat has come under fire over allegations that his office purposely obscured the number of deaths of nursing home residents to protect his reputation. New York state's official death count, presented daily to the public and on the state's Department of Health website, stood at around 43,000 this week. But the state has provided the federal government with data that shows roughly 54,000 people have died with COVID-19 as a cause or contributing factor listed on their death certificate."

"It's no longer illegal to cut hair on Sundays in New York. (Yes, really.)," by USA Today Network's Jon Campbell: "Rest easy, barbers and hair dressers: Cutting hair on Sundays will no longer make you a potential criminal in New York. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill into law Tuesday repealing an outdated, rarely enforced section of the state's general business law that made it illegal to 'engage in the business of' cutting hair, shaving or other barber-related work on Sundays. Anyone who broke the law could technically have been charged with a misdemeanor and a fine of up to $5 for a first offense, though the law doesn't appear to have been applied in decades. A second offense carried a fine of up to $25 and a potential jail sentence of up to 25 days."

"Binghamton mayor announces bid for state Senate seat," by Spectrum's Vince Briga: "Binghamton Mayor Rich David has made it official. After finishing his term as city leader, he plans to run for the New York state Senate next year. Joined by dozens of supporters, including departing state Sen. Fred Akshar, David announced his decision Tuesday afternoon. Akshar is leaving the Senate seat for a run at Broome County sheriff. David said many of the same reasons he was motivated to run for mayor are driving him to seek the 52nd Senate District seat, including improving infrastructure and supporting law enforcement."

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: With just one month left in the Child Victims Act look-back window, a law firm representing sexual abuse survivors is asking New Yorkers to identify 177 alleged abusers the firm says may continue to pose threats to children. Jeff Anderson & Associates is launching an ad campaign today seeking more information on a list of Catholic priests, church officials, church employees and others who have been named in civil suits. The attorneys say they have been unable to determine whether more than 100 of the individuals are dead or alive and whether they are around children. For the next 25 days, ads will run on Facebook and community information websites asking for more identifying information.

#UpstateAmerica: Oh boy, electric scooters are coming to the Capital Region. Don't do this.

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AROUND NEW YORK

— Two NYPD cops filed civil suits after clashes last year with protesters on the Brooklyn Bridge, saying they were "assaulted, without provocation."

— Seventy-seven women have filed lawsuits alleging sexual abuse against an ex-Long Island pediatrician who was stripped of his medical license in 2000.

— AG Tish James is co-leading a coalition of 18 attorneys general who say the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration should boost car seat safety rules.

— GlobalFoundries is set to expand its computer chip manufacturing complex in Malta.

— Heiress Clare Bronfman continues to pay the legal fees of NXIVM cult leader Keith Raniere from behind bars.

— Tens of thousands of people have signed a petition calling on the Queens DA to reopen the case of a disabled man convicted of murdering a jogger.

— The Museum of Chinese in America is reopening after its archives were destroyed , amid protests from some in the community.

— Five IDNYC offices are also reopening after over a year of closure because of the pandemic.

— Someone take this Corvette off the state's hands!

— Jeff Goldblum posed for photos and serenaded a pair of newlyweds in Brooklyn.

— Another Chick-fil-A debate continues to heat up , this time over future Thruway rest-stop locations.

SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Washington Free Beacon's Eliana Johnson … ABC's Devin Dwyer … The Guardian's Daniel Strauss … Facebook's Nkechi Nneji … David Goodman … CNN's David Shortell … WSJ's Nicole Friedman … Caroline Kelly … James Capalino … NYT's Matina Stevis-Gridneff … Howard Lutnick … Deloitte's Dayton Potter … Julie Wood

(was Tuesday): Carolyn Strauss … Eric Kohlmann

WEEKEND WEDDING — Erin Magnuson and John Whitelaw, who are both VPs at Morgan Stanley, were married this weekend at the Sullivan House in Block Island, Rhode Island. The couple met at Yale University in 2012. Pic … Another pic

WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Anja Crowder Morice, talent producer for "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" and an ABC News alum, and Peter Morice, COO at Teg Energy Group, welcomed Sophie Amelia Morice on July 6. Pic … Another pic

MEDIAWATCH — Julián Castro is joining NBC News/MSNBC as a political analyst. … ⁦@edmundlee: "Former New York Observer media reporter ⁦@gabrielsnyder⁩ launches ⁦@offtherecordnyc⁩, 'a daily email newsletter reporting on the media industry.' That this perhaps needs to exist is noteworthy. Also, Gabe is reviving the 'OFF THE RECORD' moniker. Offtherecord.nyc" … Jackson Richman has started as a writer for Mediaite. He is a former Washington correspondent at JNS.org.

MAKING MOVES — Sasha Moss is now a public policy manager at Coinbase working on stakeholder engagement. She most recently was senior director at InSight Public Affairs.

SPOTTED at a book party hosted by Mike Bloomberg on Monday night to celebrate the publication of Gary Ginsberg's new book, "First Friends" ($21.85 on Amazon) at Bloomberg Philanthropies: Blair and Cheryl Effron, Patti Harris, Kevin Sheekey, Walter and Cathy Isaacson, Wes Moore, Suzanna Aron, Sol Shapiro and Kerith Aronow, Howard Wolfson, Michael Lynton, Brynne Craig, Chris Licht, David Gergen, Kate Bolduan, Jake Siewert, Tammy Haddad, Claire Bingham and Joe Finnerty, Rick Stengel, John Avalon, Jim Rutenberg, Holly Peterson, Stu Loeser and Doug Band.

REAL ESTATE

"The Astor Place Kmart Was My Place to Be Normal," by Curbed's Jerry Saltz: "There are ghosts all over this estuary non-neighborhood. I used to live in a druggy apartment building on Avenue B with a dealer's dogs patrolling the hallways and no heat in winter. Later I moved to a nice apartment in Greenwich Village and could feel the gentrification just petering out in this curious architectural corridor as it passed Kmart. I have never liked the space right there. One always looks as fast as one can to the magisterial Cooper Union or the spinning black public sculpture. Now there's a red-orange shiny boring Jeff Koons balloon dog in the glass lobby of a new, nondescript glass-wall building."

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