News: POLITICO New York Playbook: Cuomo to be interviewed in AG probe — Fundraising #’s trickle in — MTA leadership looks iffy as Foye heads for door

Friday, July 16, 2021

POLITICO New York Playbook: Cuomo to be interviewed in AG probe — Fundraising #’s trickle in — MTA leadership looks iffy as Foye heads for door

Jul 16, 2021

By Erin Durkin, Anna Gronewold and Téa Kvetenadze

However you choose to rest this weekend, know that you'll probably be having a better time of it than Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is scheduled to be interviewed by investigators for Attorney General Tish James' office on Saturday, The New York Times reported.

This might mean the probe is wrapping up — or not — but it's a good sign it's hit a peak. The governor's office didn't confirm or deny the coming conversation, which has been expected as part of the process. But spox Rich Azzopardi repeated the defense that CuomoLand has begun to employ more recently, calling the investigation (which Cuomo requested himself in late February) politically motivated.

Not long after the interview tidbit dropped, Cuomo released his fundraising numbers, which have been highly anticipated as a harbinger of how much support he has to run for a fourth term. Cuomo brought in $2.5 million over the past six months, his campaign said, leaving him with $18.47 million in the bank.

It's one of the smallest totals Cuomo — a famously formidable fundraiser — has ever reported. But it's arguably been the most tumultuous six months of his political career. The campaign report also showed $284,000 to Glavin PLLC. Rita Glavin is Cuomo's personal attorney.

A different kind of milestone, Bill Mahoney notes, is that this could be the first reporting period an opponent has outraised Cuomo in 15 years. GOP presumptive nominee Rep. Lee Zeldin announced that since launching his bid in April, he has raised more than $4 million, which included $2.5 million in his campaign's first 10 days.

After last night's one-two punch of Cuomo news, here's a thought.

How about we popularize Thursday (rather than Friday) news dumps? That way everyone can spend Friday morning picking up the pieces and still wrap up by happy hour without dipping into weekend getaways or Disney+ binges. Think about it: This could be the new normal.

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? In Albany with no announced public schedule.

WHERE'S BILL? Appearing on WNYC's The Brian Lehrer Show.

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WHAT CITY HALL'S READING

MTA leadership uncertain as Foye's departure looms, by POLITICO's Danielle Muoio: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is facing big questions about how it will recover riders this fall who fled the system at the height of the global Covid-19 pandemic — and no clear leader to steer the agency through it. MTA Chair and CEO Pat Foye plans to leave the agency at the end of the month, and the authority has yet to name his replacement. The situation was complicated after Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who effectively controls the MTA, attempted to ram a bill through in the waning days of the legislative session that would split the job into two separate roles... But the deal collapsed in the Senate amid outcry from union leaders and good government groups, who raised concerns over the rushed attempt to overhaul the MTA's leadership structure without further vetting. There's currently no appetite in the Senate to take the bill up again, according to two sources familiar with the discussions.

Adams celebrates victory alongside influential hotel union, by POLITICO's Sally Goldenberg: New York City's hotel workers union would be hard pressed to find a more reliable ally in politics than Mayor Bill de Blasio, who upheld the organization's agenda — at times over the objections of his own staff. But the man likely to succeed de Blasio next year may be an even closer friend to the union. Eric Adams, the Democratic mayoral nominee, ticked off a series of policy positions that are in lock step with the Hotel Trades Council after a spirited rally at its Midtown Manhattan headquarters Thursday morning. On Airbnb — public enemy number one for the hotel industry — Adams unequivocally sided with the union in its longstanding and thus-far successful effort to blunt growth of the short-term rental magnate across the five boroughs.

The future of work has arrived, and it's messy, by POLITICO's Ben White and Eleanor Mueller: Sarah, a young analyst at one of the world's biggest investment banks, is back in her Lower Manhattan office about three days a week now, mostly clocking the kind of long hours typically required of the junior Wall Street set. She's got free breakfast in the morning, a comped gym membership and can expense a car ride home at night if she doesn't feel like hopping on her bike and pedaling back to Chelsea, all new perks dangled by her bosses to lure employees back to headquarters in the late Covid era. But the tug of remote work remains. During the pandemic year, Sarah (who asked not to use her real name so as not to upset her employer) had more autonomy over her workday … Sarah's experience is playing out across the white-collar working world as the biggest, fastest and most head-spinning disruption in American working life in generations rambles toward some kind of return to normality. The trouble is that almost no one — workers or bosses — has any real idea what normal means now.

"They Risked Their Lives During Covid. They Still Don't Earn Minimum Wage," by The New York Times' Patrick McGeehan: "They zipped around New York City on bikes, bringing restaurant meals to customers too fearful to venture out. Others drove for Uber and Lyft, ferrying different passengers, never knowing if they might be risking their health. Throughout the pandemic, gig workers have been considered essential to helping New York function even as many residents sheltered at home. People who lost jobs during the pandemic took on gig work as a way to make some money. But despite that, many gig workers say they are left too vulnerable to the coronavirus and have not been fairly compensated. Though the minimum wage in New York City is $15 an hour, many residents who work for app-based services like UberEats, DoorDash and Lyft earn less than half that and cannot pay rent and other expenses, according to surveys of gig workers in the city. But a large share are immigrants, many of them undocumented, who feel they have few other options, the surveys show."

"How Garcia, Wiley and Morales Gave Their Male Mayoral Rivals a Run for Their Money," by The City's Samantha Maldonado: "Mayoral candidate Eric Adams notched another $1.3 million in taxpayer-footed public matching funds Thursday — but the latest campaign finance numbers show how his top female primary rivals gave him a run for his money. The five men among the top eight Democratic candidates outpaced the women in garnering the support of super PACs — a.k.a. independent expenditure groups — by a margin of more than 13-to-one, an analysis by THE CITY found. And they beat the women by about six-to-one in private fundraising. But the women in the race effectively used the public funding system to bring two of them — Kathryn Garcia and Maya Wiley — close to making history in a city that's never elected a female mayor, figures from the city Campaign Finance Board show."

"Upper East Side Sinkhole: 20-Foot Crater Startles Neighborhood," by Patch's Nick Garber: "Thursday's collapse came just days after another crater opened up on the Upper West Side, nearly devouring two cars parked on Riverside Drive. Both came after days of heavy afternoon rainfall that briefly flooded some subway stations and left New Yorkers alarmed about the city's ability to withstand extreme weather, already being worsened by climate change. [City Council Member Ben] Kallos called the trend troubling, though officials have not given any indication that Thursday's sinkhole was weather-related."

WHAT ALBANY'S READING

"Taxpayers fork over $800K to lawyers repping Cuomo, top aides in nursing home probe — so far," by New York Post's Bernadette Hogan: "Taxpayers have shelled out nearly $800,000 to the lawyers representing Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his top aides in their defense against charges that the administration withheld data pertaining to COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes and misused state resources in the production of the governor's $5.1 million book deal. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's website shows $795,936.88 has been paid to date to the high-powered law firm Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello and Executive Chamber — out of the $2.5 million contract minted between the attorneys and the Executive Chamber. 'This is absurd that the governor gets a free, taxpayer-funded defense of the various crimes, that I believe, he committed. Why should the taxpayers be on the hook to defend him for abusing resources?' seethed New York Republican Party Chairman Nick Langworthy. … The contract says that the firm has been retained to represent Cuomo and his aides as the Department of Justice as well as 'other law enforcement or investigative entities.'"

SHOW ME THE MONEY (cont.) by POLITICO's Bill Mahoney: Attorney General Tish James has raised $1 million over the past six months , according to a campaign finance disclosure report. It's a fairly modest amount for an attorney general with a rising profile. Four years ago, then-Attorney General Eric Schneiderman raised $1.7 million in the first half of the year. At the comparable point in 2009, then-Attorney General Andrew Cuomo raised $5.1 million as he was deflecting questions about whether he had any interest in attempting to replace an increasingly beleaguered governor the following year. But James, it should be noted, won the 2018 election despite largely eschewing television advertising and spending a relatively meager $3.7 million.

— Republican Rob Astorino has raised $744,000 since January for his gubernatorial bid. With $37,000 worth of expenses and a few hundred thousand in his war chest at the start of the filing period, that left him with a couple bucks north of $1 million in the bank. That figure appears to be the largest haul in decades reported by a Republican gubernatorial hopeful this early in the election cycle. But it's expected to be surpassed by Rep. Lee Zeldin by the end of the day on Thursday.

"Con Edison, others to pay $86 mln in New York settlements over Tropical Storm Isaias," by Reuters' Jonathan Stempel: "Consolidated Edison Inc and two other companies will pay more than $86 million to resolve New York state claims over their response to Tropical Storm Isaias, which knocked out power to more than 900,000 utility customers last August. Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Thursday that Con Ed and its Orange & Rockland Utilities affiliate will pay $82.05 million, while Frontier Communications and Central Hudson Gas & Electric will pay a respective $2.7 million and $1.5 million... The state's Public Service Commission had sought as much as $137.3 million in penalties from Con Edison, Orange & Rockland and Central Hudson, after finding that utilities in New York responded too slowly, were understaffed or struggled to communicate with customers as the storm intensified."

#UpstateAmerica: Jefferson County has installed its first-ever turtle crossing, in an effort to protect a threatened, yellow-chinned species as it journeys between Chaumont Bay and Lake Ontario.

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CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

"Trudeau: U.S.-Canada border could open to fully vaccinated Americans in August," by POLITICO's Zi-Ann Lum: Canada could open its border to fully vaccinated Americans for nonessential travel as early as mid-August. The news comes after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's call with premiers on Thursday night. According to a readout of the conversation, Trudeau's provincial and territorial counterparts "expressed their support of reopening plans, and agreed on the importance of ensuring clarity and predictability as initial steps are taken." If restrictions are eased, U.S. citizens and permanent residents would be allowed into Canada. The readout noted current vaccination rates and Covid-19 trends are on a "positive path" and if they continue, "Canada would be in a position to welcome fully vaccinated travellers from all countries by early September."

AROUND NEW YORK

— The Queens Museum is among 46 cultural nonprofit organizations selected for a new $30 million program by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

— Queens BP Donovan Richards wants the city's proposed Covid memorial to be in Flushing Meadows Corona Park instead of Battery Park City.

— The New York City Marriage Bureau will soon reopen for in-person weddings.

— Rep. Jamaal Bowman announced legislation that would create a "Green New Deal for Public Schools."

— Intel Corp. is exploring a deal to buy GlobalFoundries Inc. for about $30 billion.

— Five Black Lives Matter protesters were arrested in Saratoga Springs after a march calling for city officials to apologize for recent remarks they made about activists in the city.

— There was a small earthquake near Massena.

— Genesee Country Village and Museum's Civil War weekend will, for the first time since the '80s, not include Union and Confederate battle re-enactments.

— Fifty-three people were taken to regional hospitals after a leaky gas pipe sickened kids at an all-boys religious camp in the Catskill Mountains.

SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: NYT's Shane Goldmacher … CBS' Ben Tracy … Andy Bromberg ... Matt Zingsheim … Jonathan Mann ... Doug Herzog ... Tony Kushner ... James L. Greenfield ... Julian Brodsky (h/ts Jewish Insider)

FOR YOUR RADAR — " Ticket sales are moving slowly for the coming Trump-O'Reilly stadium tour," by POLITICO's Daniel Lippman: Donald Trump is having trouble selling advance tickets for his upcoming speaking tour with conservative pundit Bill O'Reilly, according to interviews with ticketing officials for the venues.

MAKING MOVES — Dia Bryant will serve as the executive director of The Education Trust–New York. (h/t POLITICO Morning Education) … Rebecca Bernhard is now director of PR for The Farmer's Dog. She most recently was director of PR for Rolling Stone and is also a Mic alum.

MEDIAWATCH — "'Faster, Harder, Louder': Rolling Stone Hires Daily Beast Editor," by NYT's Marc Tracy: "Rolling Stone has chosen Noah Shachtman, a veteran of the news site The Daily Beast, as its next editor in chief, the magazine announced on Thursday, calling on him to continue the transformation of the 54-year-old pop music bible into a digital-first publication. Mr. Shachtman, 50, said in an interview that he plans to bring along The Daily Beast's newsy approach and web metabolism when he starts his new job in September."

— AP: "Jordan Pavlin, the publisher of such young and acclaimed authors as Tommy Orange, Ayana Mathis and Yaa Gyasi, has been promoted to editor in chief of Alfred A. Knopf, among the book world's most prestigious jobs."

— Malcom Thomas is now an associate booking producer at MSNBC. He most recently was an editorial producer at CNN. ... Alex Hsieh is now PR associate at The New Yorker. She most recently was a PR coordinator at ViacomCBS.

REAL ESTATE

"Millions of dollars worth of foreclosed property is being ignored by Mount Vernon," by Journal News' Jonathan Bandler: "They say cities shouldn't be in the real estate business. They were probably talking about Mount Vernon. A Journal News/lohud investigation has found that the city has sat on dozens of foreclosed properties in recent years, making little effort to sell them and get them back on the tax rolls or to collect rent from the businesses or families who remain tenants. 'It's hard to put a finger on the exact problem but it's just dysfunction,' said Frank Trolio, a city resident and businessman who's waited more than three years for the city to honor a down payment he made on a property. 'They play the blame game and meanwhile nothing gets done and (the properties) just sit there.'

"Mount Vernon has sold just one property over the past four years, although this week the city's real estate committee identified four more that the City Council should consider selling. Those included two vacant lots; the former home of the late Betty Shabazz, Malcolm X's wife; and a dilapidated home on South Fulton Avenue. Mount Vernon's tax roll shows 160 properties owned by the city, nearly half of which are small parcels with no street numbers. Of the remaining 85 properties, 35 are used by the city, either as parkland, playgrounds, municipal buildings or parking lots."

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