News : POLITICO New York Playbook: De Blasio at Rikers

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

POLITICO New York Playbook: De Blasio at Rikers

Sep 28, 2021

By Erin Durkin, Anna Gronewold and Deanna Garcia

Mayor Bill de Blasio, after weeks of pressure, finally visited Rikers Island on Monday. And what did he see there? "We've got a lot of changes we have to make," de Blasio said, vaguely. "There's a huge amount more work to do."

De Blasio refused to go into any detail about what conditions he observed, and reporters were unable to see for themselves since they were invited to Rikers only for a press conference after the visit and not allowed into detention areas with the mayor. Some of what other elected officials who have recently toured the jail have reported: an inmate attempting suicide, people relieving themselves into plastic bags, vermin and human waste on floors and walls, and prisoners not receiving sufficient water or food.

It's unclear whether de Blasio observed similar problems. When asked if he saw anything that upset him, he said: "I was upset when I took office. I was upset four years ago. I remain upset. This is a place that should have been shut down a long, long time ago." De Blasio said he did not speak with any detainees during his visit. Nor did he speak with rank-and-file correction officers.

Benny Boscio, head of the Correction Officers' Benevolent Association, called the tour "sugar-coated." "This was not the tour that @NYCMayor needed to see today. The DOC literally emptied out the intake areas completely and even painted them with fresh paint," the union added. "No conversations with our COs. This was a DOC infomercial, not a look at reality."

Earlier in the day, as decarceration activists protested at city courthouses, de Blasio said he now expects to use his executive powers to release some detainees — but the number will be in the dozens, not the hundreds. The mayor had previously dismissed calls to release people serving short sentences, and still says it won't be a "game-changing number," but now predicts he'll have a list finalized some time this week.

IT'S TUESDAY. 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 KATHY? In Albany delivering remarks at the Annual Police Officers' Memorial Ceremony.

WHERE'S BILL? Holding a media availability.

ABOVE THE FOLD — "Hospitals curtail services as vaccination mandate takes effect ," by Times Union's Brendan J. Lyons and Joshua Solomon: "Many hospitals across New York initiated plans over the weekend to begin curtailing services as a deadline for health care workers to be vaccinated against coronavirus took effect on Monday, prompting some facilities to reduce their available beds and surgical rooms. Gov. Kathy Hochul, during a briefing late Monday morning, said she would implement a plan to pull backup medical personnel from the National Guard and from out of state. It's unclear how the mandate would apply to many of those workers — military units and health care workers in other states also do not have 100 percent vaccination rates. In addition, the competition for out-of-state medical personnel is fierce, as many states are facing staffing shortages."

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WHAT CITY HALL'S READING

"Federal Court Clears Vaccine Mandate For NYC Public School Staff," by WNYC's Jessica Gould : "A federal appeals court has lifted an order blocking New York City from enforcing a vaccine mandate for public school staff. The ruling came Monday night, when the mandate originally had been scheduled to take effect. Shortly after the judges' ruling, Mayor de Blasio said on NY1's Inside City Hall that all public school staff must now get their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the workday Friday, meaning the mandate would go into effect when the new work week begins on Monday, October 4th."

Thousands of unvaccinated city hospital staff may be barred from work as state mandate takes effect, by POLITICO's Erin Durkin: An estimated 5,000 healthcare workers at New York City's public hospitals remain unvaccinated, and will be barred from work beginning Monday as a state vaccine mandate goes into effect … At the city's public hospitals, at least 98 percent of doctors, 95 percent of nurses and 90 percent of all staff have received one or more doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, said Health + Hospitals president Mitchell Katz. That leaves about 5,000 of the 43,000 employees who were unvaccinated as of early Monday morning. Those staffers will not be allowed to work and will not get paid starting with their Monday shifts, Katz said. If they do show up for work, they will be given a chance to get vaccinated on the spot and resume their duties. If they refuse, they'll be sent home.

— Northwell Health fired about two dozen managers who failed to get their shots.

"NYC to hire forecaster, beef up warnings after Ida flooding ," by The Associated Press' Michelle L. Price: "New York City is planning to hire a private weather forecaster, design more systems to catch and drain water and issue earlier and more aggressive warnings to residents under a new plan to respond to heavy rainfall like the deadly deluge Hurricane Ida dropped on the city earlier this month. At least 50 people from Virginia to Connecticut, including 13 in New York City, died earlier this month when the remnants of Hurricane Ida inundated the Northeast with torrential rain. … The city will hire a private weather forecasting service to provide a 'second opinion' to the city that supplements National Weather Service predictions and creates neighborhood-specific forecasts for storms, according to the Democratic mayor's plan. De Blasio said the National Weather Service does 'good and important work,' but often its reports "were too vague or too late and we need something more urgent."

— "Relief fund launched for undocumented N.Y. residents reeling from Ida damage: 'Every New Yorker matters,'" by New York Daily News' Chris Sommerfeldt: "Undocumented New Yorkers whose homes and belongings were destroyed by the remnants of Hurricane Ida earlier this month can receive as much as $72,000 in financial assistance under a new relief program rolled out by state and city officials on Monday. The $27 million program aims to ensure that undocumented residents — whose immigration status exclude them from most federal relief programs — can receive the same type of Ida aid as their citizen neighbors, Gov. Hochul said."

— " Uncertain Future For NYC's Program To Bring Dangerous Basement Apartments Up To Code," by WNYC's Jim O'Grady

WHAT ALBANY'S READING

"Jumaane Williams mulling run for governor against Kathy Hochul: sources," by New York Post's Lydia Moynihan, Julia Marsh and Bruce Golding: "Public Advocate Jumaane Williams is forming an exploratory committee to mount a Democratic primary challenge to Gov. Kathy Hochul near year– and could publicly announce the move as soon as next week, The Post has learned. Williams has been calling donors and other political insiders to inform them of his potential candidacy, sources said. One Democratic insider said Williams was 'trying to get out ahead' of potential campaigns by Attorney General Letitia James and outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio. 'He also struggles raising money, so he's dipping his toe in early to see the reaction,' the source said. A campaign strategist for James — who commissioned the sexual harassment probe that led former Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign in disgrace last month — has been gauging support from her donors for a potential run for governor, CNBC reported earlier this month."

— FWIW, when asked by POLITICO last week what he thought of Hochul's performance as governor so far, Williams said this: "My objective is to make sure that the governor does well, because if the governor does well, the state does well, so I want to see that happen. I think so far the waters aren't as choppy as they're going to get in probably short order, so we've got to wait and see."

'MEANWHILE IN BUFFALO… " India Walton Beat the Buffalo Mayor in a Primary. He Won't Give Up." by The New York Times' Jesse McKinley: "Against that backdrop, the mayoral race in Democratic-dominated Buffalo has gained national attention, particularly on the left. With a little more than five weeks to go before the election, a roster of prominent liberal figures, including Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are pledging support for Ms. Walton. Liberal groups and downstate Democrats, including the New York City public advocate, Jumaane Williams, and the former candidate for governor, Cynthia Nixon, have also been rallying to Ms. Walton's side, hoping to demonstrate that their insurgent energy flows all the way to the edge of Lake Erie, where Buffalo sits."

SPEAKING OF FUNDRAISING..."Hochul, Benjamin hit fundraising circuit in New York," by Spectrum's Nick Reisman: "Gov. Kathy Hochul and Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin will make a headlining appearance at a fundraiser for New York City Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney next month, according to an invitation for the Oct. 18 event. Tickets for the fundraiser range from $25 to $500. The appearance at the fundraiser will nearly two months into Hochul's tenure as governor, and nine months before she faces a likely Democratic gubernatorial primary in June. Making fundraising appearances like these events could be key for Hochul, a western New York native and the first governor from Buffalo in a century, to solidify political relationships heading into an election year. Hochul has signaled she plans to run for a full term next year, but she will likely face several challenges for the nomination."

And speaking of Buffalo... Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to show up in the city today to attend a fundraiser... for himself. It's slated to take place at Sinatra's Restaurant.

" Upstate minimum wage poised to rise to $13.20 an hour," The Capitol Pressroom's David Lombardo: "The upstate minimum wage is set to increase 70 cents in January as the result of recommendations from Gov. Kathy Hochul's Division of Budget. On Monday, the DOB released a report making the case for raising the upstate minimum wage from $12.50 an hour to $13.20 an hour at the end of the year. The report also approves a pre-planned increase of the minimum wage in the New York City suburbs from $14 an hour to $15 an hour. The increases are the product of the 2016 language approved by state lawmakers and then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, which built in a process empowering the DOB to authorize minimum wage hikes until the entire state was at a minimum wage of $15 an hour."

#UpstateAmerica: Two Syracuse business partners plan to be first in line for approval to open a legal weed lounge in the area, but in the meantime they're rallying other entrepreneurs toward the new industry.

BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we've got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don't miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now.

FROM THE DELEGATION

"Rep. Suozzi places big bet on SALT cap repeal," by NY1's Nick Reisman: "Typically people in elected office, just like anyone, don't want to look foolish. This is perhaps doubly true for image-conscious politicians. So on Monday, Rep. Tom Suozzi was blunt in a video conference with reporters when describing the limb he's gone out on when it comes to getting a full repeal of the $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions. 'If it doesn't happen I'm going to look like an idiot,' he said. And Suozzi's bet on the cap repeal as part of a proposed multi-trillion dollar domestic spending bill isn't just part of a policy debate over taxation and the impact of federal taxes in states like New York. Suozzi suggested in large part it's wrapped up in his future as a potential candidate for governor next year. 'I'd love to be the governor, but right now I'm really focused on getting SALT,' he said. 'If I don't get this done, it takes away a lot of my rationale.'"

"Rep. Antonio Delgado walks an ideological tightrope to reelection," by City & State's Rebecca C. Lewis: "After a quiet reelection campaign in 2020, Delgado faces a tough challenge from Marc Molinaro in 2022. The Dutchess County executive and former gubernatorial candidate comes in with an extensive government track record, name recognition and a reputation as a pragmatic moderate, much like Delgado. Although it's unlikely to be as brutal as the 2018 race that featured attacks on Delgado's rap career from well over a decade ago, the national Republican Party will surely see an opportunity to get involved again."

TRUMP'S NEW YORK

"De Blasio Tees Off Trump at Bronx Golf Course: Homeless Shelter Operator Set to Evict the Ex-President," by The City's Claudia Irizarry Aponte : "While Donald Trump battles Bill de Blasio over the mayor's decision to dump the former president as operator of a Bronx golf course, the city is playing through — proposing a new firm to run the Ferry Point links. A notice published Monday shows a company called Ferry Point Links LLC is set to be awarded a 13-year Parks Department deal to take over the Jack Nicklaus-designed 18-hole course at the foot of the Bronx-Whitestone bridge. A firm incorporated under that name in late August, state corporation records indicate — sharing both an executive's name and address with one of the city's biggest homeless shelter operators, CORE Community Services. An attorney for the former president vowed to fight the city — and the proposed new golf course operators — for control of the links, charging Trump is a victim of 'political retaliation.'"

AROUND NEW YORK

— R. Kelly was was convicted on federal racketeering charges after his sex trafficking trial.

— De Blasio said his Sanitation Department was wrong to trash a bunch of produce seized from a Bronx street vendor.

— A NYC Transit superintendent covered his license plate to dodge tolls and had more than $100,000 in outstanding charges when he was caught.

— Bronx Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa was attacked this weekend while attending a volunteer event in Starlight Park.

— The insurance company for the driver of the limousine that crashed in Schoharie, killing 20 people, sent a $100,000 insurance payment for the victims.

— The state Department of Labor is telling new applicants that there might not be enough money for them left in the Excluded Workers Fund for those that missed out on unemployment during the pandemic.

— Hochul announced an in-depth statewide broadband mapping study.

— A group of nearly 4,000 retired city workers sued over changes to their health insurance.

— The MTA has ticketed 41 passengers for refusing to wear a mask on subways, buses and commuter rails over the past week.

— Animal rights activists protested for a horse carriage ban after a grisly collision between a horse and a car.

— The MTA announced that the environmental review process for the Metro-North Penn Station Access Project is complete, which will add four new stations in the Bronx.

SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Andy Taylor … Steve Schmidt … Peacock TV's Joanna Brenner … MSNBC's Chris Geidner … Nadia Szold … Antonio Weiss … Ben Greenman … Simon Winchester … Jeff Barnard … Gabi Renz

MAKING MOVES — Brittany L. Parisi is now an attorney at Andrew M. Wolfenson, Esq., P.C. She most recently was an attorney doing commercial litigation at Wong Fleming.

MEDIAWATCH — Stephen Sanchez is now a booking researcher at NBC News. He most recently was a broadcast associate on the assignment desk at CBS News.

REAL ESTATE

"Manhattan breaks luxury sales record with 3 months still to go," by The Real Deal's Erin Hudson: "It's only September, but Manhattan's luxury real estate market has already set an all-time record. Based on the combined asking prices, buyers have signed contracts to purchase $11.4 billion worth of luxury homes in the borough so far this year, according to Olshan Realty's weekly contract report, which tracks homes asking $4 million or more in Manhattan. The year-to-date total surpasses the report's annual record of $11.3 billion, set in 2014."

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