News : POLITICO New York Playbook: Adams still eyes job for anti-LGBTQ pol

Friday, February 11, 2022

POLITICO New York Playbook: Adams still eyes job for anti-LGBTQ pol

Feb 11, 2022

By Erin Durkin, Anna Gronewold and Deanna Garcia

Presented by CVS Health

An ex-pol who has become a lightning rod for his anti-gay views may be getting a job in the Adams administration after all. Fernando Cabrera has been showing up at a municipal building across the street from City Hall while he awaits a specific job assignment, our Sally Goldenberg reports.

POLITICO first reported last week that Cabrera, a Christian pastor and former City Council member from the Bronx, was in line to lead the Office of Community Mental Health, the replacement for the de Blasio-era ThriveNYC. Outrage followed from the LGBTQ community and others, who pointed to Cabrera's conservative views on gay rights — particularly a trip to Uganda where he praised the country's government after it enacted a law harshly punishing homosexuality. Within hours, a City Hall spokesperson issued a statement saying in no uncertain terms that Cabrera would not get the gig.

The disavowal, though, apparently extended only to that specific post. Cabrera is now in contention for another appointment, according to people familiar with the situation. He was spotted at City Hall Thursday afternoon, where he cooled his heels for nearly an hour on a bench outside a suite of mayoral offices. It's unclear if he's already getting paid by the city.

Adams has insisted he has the prerogative to choose his own hires because "I'm the mayor." But he has also backed away from some nominees embroiled in drama, like would-have-been Economic Development Corporation head Carlo Scissura, who announced this week he would stay in the private sector.

Is Cabrera worth the trouble? Former City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and staffers within his own administration have urged Adams to reconsider the pick. And Allen Roskoff, a gay rights activist and president of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, said it should nixed. "Why is it okay to hire a well-known homophobe to be part of your administration anywhere, anywhere in this city? No matter what the job is, you shouldn't be hiring bigots — I don't care if he's going to work in a stock room," he said.

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 KATHY? Delivering remarks at the South Fork Wind Project Groundbreaking.

WHERE'S ERIC? Opening the third NYC Health + Hospitals COVID-19 Center of Excellence in Brooklyn and making a Taxi and Limousine Commission-related announcement.

QUOTE OF THE DAY — "I'm sorry we betrayed him, and so many others like him." — Mayor Eric Adams , in an emotional speech Thursday focused on the shooting death of 18-year-old Jayquan McKenley and the need for more help for at-risk youth.

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What City Hall's reading

"Nearly 3,000 N.Y.C. Workers Have a Day to Get Vaccinated or Be Fired," by The New York Times' Emma G. Fitzsimmons: "Hundreds of municipal workers marched across the Brooklyn Bridge this week, chanting in unison for New York City to end its vaccine mandate, and carrying signs that said 'Fire Fauci' and 'Unvaccinated Lives Matter.' Their pleas were rejected by Mayor Eric Adams, who has reaffirmed the city's looming ultimatum: If city workers do not get vaccinated, they are the ones who will be fired. The Adams administration is poised to dismiss up to 3,000 municipal workers on Friday for refusing to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, in what could be the nation's most drastic example of a work force reduction tied to a vaccine requirement. The mandate, put in place by Mr. Adams's predecessor, Bill de Blasio, has been effective: About 95 percent of the city's 370,000 workers have received at least one dose of the vaccine, an increase from 84 percent when the mandate was first announced in October."

"DOT Backtracks On Erasing Hugely Popular Fort Greene Open Street," by Streetsblog's Dave Colon: "The Adams administration has made its first major move on open streets: erasing a stretch on Willoughby Avenue in Clinton Hill and Fort Greene, allegedly at the behest of people close to the mayor, who was once a police officer in the neighborhood's local precinct. The removal of the car-limited street on Willoughby Avenue between Washington Park and Hall Street in neighboring Clinton Hill was done suddenly and with no warning to the community, according to Mike Lydon, a neighborhood resident who has done some planning and surveys for the open streets group in that area. … Well after publication, the Department of Transportation said that the open street would be restored, and claimed that the meeting held by its own Public Spaces Unit in which residents were told the open street was being removed was all a big misunderstanding."

"Families Get Rejected from Homeless Shelter Without Required Review, Comptroller Audit Finds," by The City's Josefa Velasquez: "Most families rejected from homeless shelters did not get a full required review of their housing histories before being deemed ineligible, a new audit from City Comptroller Brad Lander finds — including one who'd applied 38 times. In all, the Department of Homeless Services tossed 42% of 46,200 family applications between January 2019 and mid-March 2020, the audit found, in a process that begins at the Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing (PATH) intake center on East 151st Street in The Bronx. THE CITY reported last week that rejections have since swelled, with three in four applications disqualified."

Adams restructures his government, maintains direct line to NYPD, by POLITICO's Sally Goldenberg: City government has gotten an overhaul. Five weeks into the job, Mayor Eric Adams created the positions of deputy mayor for public safety and chief efficiency officer, stripped affordable housing from any deputy mayor's portfolio and empowered his chief of staff and lead counsel with responsibilities their predecessors did not have, including the Office of Animal Welfare. In designing his government, Adams settled a matter of intrigue regarding his new deputy mayor for public safety. The occupant of that job, former NYPD Chief of Department Phil Banks, will not oversee the nation's largest police force. Instead, Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell will report directly to Adams, maintaining the same setup as his predecessor, according to an organizational chart the mayor quietly signed into existence last week.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Climate Jobs NY, a coalition of labor unions, has released a report with Cornell University laying out its agenda for New York City . The report makes recommendations for how the city can fight climate change while creating union jobs. It calls on the Adams administration to add 1.1 gigawatts of renewable energy and battery storage to public schools by 2030. It also calls on the Adams administration to pursue the Renewable Rikers plan and explore ways offshore wind and green hydrogen can create new jobs. The unions, which include 32BJ SEIU and TWU, will brief the Adams administration and city council members on the report starting this week. — Danielle Muoio Dunn

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.

WHAT ALBANY'S READING

"How a Long Island Republican Used a Mask Rebellion to Revive His Career," by The New York Times' Jesse McKinley: "Bruce Blakeman, who has emerged as the leader of suburban Long Island's revolt against mask mandates, has lost his fair share of elections. In 1998, Mr. Blakeman — a lifelong Republican — was trounced in a statewide election for comptroller. A year later, he was stunned to be voted out of the Nassau County Legislature, losing his perch as its presiding officer and majority leader. After toying with a run for New York City mayor in 2009, he then lost a congressional race to Representative Kathleen Rice of Long Island in 2014. But Mr. Blakeman's surprising November win in the race for Nassau County executive — upsetting Laura Curran, a moderate, first-term Democrat — has led, after so many races, to his informal anointment as the state party's unlikeliest new star."

Cuomo to file complaint against James with entity that can disbar New York lawyers, by POLITICO's Bill Mahoney: Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will file a complaint against state Attorney General Tish James with the judicial entity that has the power to disbar lawyers, his attorney said on Thursday. James released a report in August that concluded then-governor sexually harassed 11 women, leading to Cuomo's resignation. Five district attorneys have since said they found Cuomo's accusers credible but did not have enough evidence to bring criminal charges. "We have rules of professional conduct that we have to follow in the state of New York," Cuomo attorney Rita Glavin said in a press briefing Thursday. "And one of the rules that I know the governor has been focused on is that attorneys shouldn't engage in conduct that's prejudicial to the administration of justice." Glavin's announcement came two days after a group of anti-sexual harassment advocates filed a complaint of their own with the Attorney Grievance Committee. They are seeking Cuomo's disbarment.

— Hochul's office said they will comply with a subpoena asking for records about unpaid "volunteers" used by Cuomo.

" Hillary Clinton expected to speak at New York Democratic convention," by CNBC's Brian Schwartz: "Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is expected to speak at next week's New York State Democratic Party Convention, according to people familiar with the matter. Clinton, who previously represented New York in the U.S. Senate, is likely to take the stage in front of party leaders at the Sheraton hotel in Times Square, these people said. The development comes as Clinton, who also was secretary of State during the first half of President Barack Obama's administration, works to maintain relevance in a party that could be headed for defeat in this year's midterm elections. It may also stoke speculation about a potential new Clinton bid for elected office."

"Officials clear metrics for ending mask mandates in school," by Spectrum's Nick Reisman: "Officials from the school district level to the state Legislature this week called for clear metrics in determining the future of New York's mask mandate in classrooms amid increasingly heated debate over how to best handle the current phase of the COVID-19 pandemic for students, teachers and education personnel. The calls also come as New York state officials on Thursday eased mask rules for businesses, but kept the mandate in place inside hospitals, prisons, homeless shelters and on public transportation. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the state would assess masking in schools in early March following the coming winter break, scheduled for Feb. 21 in many districts."

#UpstateAmerica: Syracuse Winterfest is back, featuring classic events like ice carving and "human dog sled races."

AROUND NEW YORK

— A bomb threat at the Empire State Plaza led police to shut down traffic and many building entrances.

— Mayor Eric Adams said that his rise to the mayoralty was driven by God as he launched a new City Hall office for faith-based initiatives Thursday.

— Employees at three Starbucks stores in Manhattan and Brooklyn and one on Long Island are attempting to form a union.

— Eddie Gibbs, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges in 1988, became the first formerly incarcerated Assembly member when he was sworn in Thursday.

— A new bill proposed in the City Council would lift the city's ban on restaurants using propane heaters in their outdoor dining set-ups.

— Long Island Rail Road president Phillip Eng is stepping down.

— Many stores are still using plastic bags despite a statewide ban.

— Brooklyn's Poly Prep Country Day School lifted its mask requirement, apparently the first school in the city to do so.

— A new report released this week shows that one year after a law requiring hospitals to post their real prices online went into effect, several hospitals in New York continue to make it hard for consumers to find the information.

— Fordham University named its first female president, also the first who is not a Catholic priest.

— Federal subpoenas , which seek absentee ballot documents and other materials from the Rensselaer County Board of Elections, have been served.

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.

SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Dan Barry … Alex Conant … Steven V. Roberts … Evan Siegfried … ProPublica's Stephen Engelberg … Ilana Mouritzen … Alicia Mundy … Alan Vorchheimer … Casey Aden-Wansbury … BofA's David Stern … Mary Henkin

CLICKER — Lisa Miller and the editors of New York magazine have posted an excerpt from the forthcoming biography of AOC: "Adrift, Broke, and Disillusioned: How a struggling bartender became the face of a resurgent left."

WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Anderson Cooper welcomed his second son , Sebastian. He even got help building a crib from his son Wyatt.

MEDIAWATCH — "Anthony Weiner to co-host radio show with Curtis Sliwa, is ready for 'tough questions,'" by N.Y. Post's Mara Siegler

— "The New York Times is free to publish documents pertaining to the conservative group Project Veritas after a New York State appeals court temporarily stayed an order by a state trial judge that had been decried by First Amendment advocates and journalism groups."

— Jason Willick is joining WaPo as a staff columnist. He previously was an editorial writer and assistant editorial features editor for the WSJ. The announcement … Nick Niedzwiadek is now a labor policy reporter at POLITICO. He previously was a breaking news reporter.

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The Wall Street Journal allowed an ad earlier this week to appear on its website for a t-shirt company that showed several racist and derogatory t-shirts.

A WSJ spokesperson, Steve Severinghaus, said the ad was "programmatic," meaning it was an automated buying and selling process. "We have gone in and manually blocked it with our programmatic demand partners. We have a number of category blocks in place that we use to prevent distasteful ads from appearing on our sites, but unfortunately these blocks are not totally foolproof. While we do control the categories that we're able to block, ultimately we are reliant on the programmatic demand partner's technology to ensure the blocking is working as intended. Unfortunately, as you can see, sometimes rogue ads do make it through."

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Real Estate

"Mayor Adams, NYC slapped with lawsuit over SoHo historic district rezone," by New York Daily News' Michael Gartland: "A group of SoHo and NoHo residents sued Mayor Adams and the city Thursday over the city's plans to rezone their neighborhood, claiming that the changes paved the way for 'large-scale demolition' in the historic district. The rezoning, which was approved at the very end of Mayor Bill de Blasio's term last year, aims to bring more affordable housing to the historic artists' enclave, but residents and other elected officials have pushed back on the plan, arguing it would fail to accomplish those goals and instead prove to be a windfall for deep-pocketed developers."

"'They're shut out of the market': the struggle to rent with a criminal record," by The Guardian's Ese Olumhense: "Two hours after she toured a one-bedroom apartment at a New York City Housing Authority (Nycha) development in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, Christina Johnson returned to the building's management office with $1,861 – exactly one month's rent plus a security deposit. It was the last week of September 2020, and years of careful saving for an apartment of her own were finally over … Six days after touring the apartment, Johnson saw on the portal that her application status had changed from certified to 'pending ineligibility.' Puzzled, she went back to the management office and found her money had been returned. …The supervisor told her she and her son were ineligible for housing through Nycha – the nation's largest public housing agency – because her criminal record surfaced through a background check."

"Construction Deaths in New York Increased During First Year of Pandemic, Report Shows," by Gotham Gazette's Ethan Geringer-Sameth: "The construction industry was more deadly to workers in New York in the first year of the pandemic than in the two years prior, reversing a multiyear decline in the statewide fatality rate, a new report shows. Forty-one workers were killed on construction sites in New York in 2020, including 13 in New York City, according to a report published Thursday by the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH), part of an annual analysis previewed by Gotham Gazette."

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