News: POLITICO New York Playbook: What’s in Adams’ first budget

Thursday, February 17, 2022

POLITICO New York Playbook: What’s in Adams’ first budget

Feb 17, 2022

By Erin Durkin, Anna Gronewold and Deanna Garcia

Presented by Equinor

New York City's budget crossed the hundred-billion-dollar mark for the first time this past fall under then-Mayor Bill de Blasio. With his $98.5 billion budget proposal released on Wednesday, new Mayor Eric Adams is trying to rein things in.

There are a lot of different ways to do the math. Adams' preliminary budget is bigger than the $92.3 billion preliminary plan proposed by de Blasio at this time last year, but smaller than the $98.7 billion budget actually passed by the City Council in June. Then there's there $100.8 billion projected in November for the 2023 fiscal year. But to listen to Adams' rhetoric, he's talking more about trimming and less about adding — a shift from de Blasio, who consistently grew the city's budget and workforce and was unabashed about believing in the power of public spending.

"My administration is laser-focused on fiscal discipline," Adams said, touting a 3 percent cut he imposed on most city agencies. He also cut thousands of jobs from the city's budgeted headcount, though this involves removing already vacant jobs from the books and won't result in layoffs.

Some other takeaways from Adams' first budget:

— He won't boost the NYPD budget despite his emphasis on fighting crime, leaving police funding basically flat;

— Some of the cuts are bound to rile people up. For instance, Adams wants to save $18.2 million by suspending a planned expansion of the city's compost program;

— Adams will still pump up spending for a few pet priorities: $79 million to fund an expanded summer jobs program with 100,000 slots, $75 million for discount subway fares for low-income riders, and $30 million for health screenings and home visits for new parents. He'll also increase the city's earned income tax credit. In total, there's $926 million in new spending for next fiscal year;

— The mayor wants you back in the office. He cited lagging recovery statistics, projections the city won't regain pre-pandemic job levels until 2025 and a 20 percent office vacancy rate. He put the blame on remote work and urged employers that "Now is the time for us to get back";

— His isn't the final word: Adams may want to cut costs, but City Council members can be counted on to demand more cash for their own priorities and will get a say before a final budget is passed in June.

IT'S THURSDAY and the state's top Democrats are in Manhattan for the nominating convention with a tight speaking schedule. Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand kick off festivities at roughly 10:18 a.m. and 10:38 a.m., respectively. Hillary Clinton and Gov. Kathy Hochul will end the day at 2:52 p.m. and 3:07 p.m. We'll be there, so stay tuned for updates throughout the day and in this newsletter's afternoon edition.

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? Speaking at the state Democratic convention.

WHERE'S ERIC? Making an announcement at the Office of Emergency Management, hosting a roundtable strategy meeting about the rise of anti-Semitic hate crimes, and hosting a virtual youth advisory board meeting on Fair Futures.

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What City Hall's reading

Adams: Vaccine rule blocking Kyrie Irving from home games is 'unfair,' by POLITICO's Erin Durkin: Mayor Eric Adams said Wednesday he thinks his city's rule that prevents unvaccinated Nets star Kyrie Irving from playing home games while allowing unvaccinated out of town athletes to play is "unfair." Adams told reporters he is hesitant to change the rule because he doesn't want to send "mixed messages," but was still critical of the mandate rules imposed under his predecessor Bill de Blasio.

The top 10 contradictions of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, by POLITICO's Julia Marsh: Eric Adams had just been elected the 110th mayor of New York, and he had something people needed to hear. "Trust me when I tell you, there's never going to be another mayor like me," Adams said at a political conference in Puerto Rico in November. It sounded like hyperbole. What politician doesn't use hyperbole to boost their brand? But it's only taken six weeks for Adams to prove how right he was. From dining with disgraced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo to crying over the death of a man he'd never met, from declaring "God" told him he'd be mayor to entertaining at a private club by night, Adams has kept New York's famed tabloid newspapers busy every day. … Understanding what makes the mayor tick can be a fool's errand. He's complex and unpredictable, and often seems like a walking contradiction.

"'Nowhere is safe': Asian women reflect on brutal New York City killings," by NBC News' Sakshi Venkatraman: "Two brutal killings in the span of less than a month have left Asian American women in New York City on edge. And in metropolitan areas around the country, they say there's constant reason to be looking over their shoulder. 'I don't feel like anywhere is safe for me,' said YouMe Lin, 27, a Chinese American woman who has lived in the city for over six years. 'I feel very suffocated.' Around 4 a.m. Sunday, 35-year-old Christina Yuna Lee was found dead in her bathroom stabbed 40 times after a man, Assamad Nash, allegedly silently followed her up six flights of stairs into her lower Manhattan apartment. When police arrived on the scene, they heard Lee's screams, but by the time they broke down her steel door, it was too late."

— The memorial for the woman who was killed in her Chinatown apartment was vandalized.

"MTA's Lieber Tells Albany Legislators that Subway Bathrooms Will Stay Closed — And Jessica Ramos is Pissed! ," by Streetsblog's Dave Colon: "State Sen. Jessica Ramos accused MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber of disinterest in the face of discomfort — namely for refusing to re-open the 76 bathrooms that are scattered among the subway system's 473 stations. 'Janno Lieber doesn't want people to be able to pee,' Ramos (D-Queens) told Streetsblog after confronting Lieber at a state budget hearing on Tuesday — one in which Lieber had claimed he can't re-open the loos that were closed during the Covid-pandemic for two reasons: he doesn't have the staff and the staff is afraid."

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

"State Sen. Todd Kaminsky, a Democrat, won't seek reelection," by Newsday's Yancey Roy: "State Sen. Todd Kaminsky said Wednesday he will not seek reelection, deciding to step out of politics just three months after he was defeated in a rough-and-tumble campaign for Nassau County district attorney. Kaminsky (D-Long Beach) said he was leaving public service after 18 years, which included time as an assistant federal prosecutor and as a state assemblyman and senator. He was first elected to the Senate in a special election in May 2016. 'After much thought and consideration, I have decided that I will not run for reelection, or for any office, this fall,' said Kaminsky, 43."

— State Sen. Patty Ritchie will not seek reelection this year.

"Tom Suozzi taps ex-Councilwoman Diana Reyna as running mate," by New York Post's Bernadette Hogan and Maggie Hicks: "Longshot Democratic gubernatorial candidate — Long Island Rep. Tom Suozzi — on Wednesday tapped former Brooklyn Councilwoman Diana Reyna to be his Lieutenant Governor running mate on Wednesday. 'She's smart. She's experienced. She's tough. She's been through a lot of different things in her life that have brought her to this point. We're making history,' said Suozzi in Williamsburg ahead of introducing his pick for No. 2 on the ticket. 'This is an opportunity for us to partner together to get New York back on track.' Reyna said she supports amending New York's bail reform laws, including adding a 'dangerousness' standard permitting judges to consider whether to release a defendant from custody."

"Can New York Overhaul Its Complex, Antiquated Court System?," by The New York Times' Luis Ferré-Sadurní: "The plan, which is similar to one Judge DiFiore unveiled in 2019, would require a constitutional amendment to be enacted, an uphill climb in the State Legislature. The lengthy process would require lawmakers to pass the bill two years in a row before allowing voters to weigh in on a referendum. Indeed, previous attempts by chief judges to consolidate the courts have traditionally been obstructed by politics and have faced stiff opposition from some judges concerned about how they would be seated in a new system. They contend that the proposed structure would threaten their judicial independence, and potentially weaken diversity efforts. The actual process of consolidating the sprawling court system would require the administrative reshuffling of 1,350 state-paid judges and 15,000 court employees, such as clerks and officers, whose unions have previously raised concerns. Rallying public support around an arcane if consequential judicial matter could also prove difficult."

"Hochul housing plan at train stations and in single-family zones draws bipartisan rebuke ," Journal News' David McKay Wilson: "Gov. Kathy Hochul's ambitious plan to promote multi-family housing by Metro North train stations and in single-family neighborhoods has run into a buzzsaw of opposition in Westchester County. The opposition has galvanized Republicans and Democrats, become a flashpoint in this year's gubernatorial campaign in both parties, and made Hudson Valley communities the epicenter of the debate over state housing policy. The battle is over accessory dwelling units, essentially apartments created within single-family homes, or in out-buildings, which were traditionally created for extended family members. But they are also used as rental units for unrelated tenants, making housing more affordable for homeowners, who enjoy a steady stream of rental income."

"How Kathy Hochul Went From Unexpected Governor to Clear Front-Runner," by The New York Times' Nicholas Fandos: "When Kathy Hochul unexpectedly ascended to the governor's mansion last August, elevated after her predecessor's sexual harassment scandal, she hardly resembled the kind of political powerhouse New Yorkers were accustomed to — brash, self-aggrandizing, male and from downstate. Many in Gotham's tight-knit political class immediately assigned an asterisk to her name and predicted that Ms. Hochul, a moderate from Buffalo with a penchant for making friends but not headlines, would struggle in a pitched primary battle to hold onto the job. Six months later, they could scarcely look more wrong. Instead, Ms. Hochul set out on a brisk campaign to corner party leaders and crowd out potential rivals that was as ruthlessly efficient as it was exceedingly congenial."

#UpstateAmerica: Saratoga's public safety commissioner is concerned that "gangster rap" brings "unsavory characters" to the Spa City.

A message from Equinor:

TRUMP'S NEW YORK

"Former New York Observer editor Ken Kurson takes plea deal in cyberstalking case," by New York Post's Tamar Lapin: "Ken Kurson, the former New York Observer editor-in-chief accused of cyberstalking his ex-wife, pleaded guilty to reduced charges Wednesday as part of a deal with prosecutors. Kurson, 53, was accused of installing spyware on his then-wife's computer and monitoring her online activity, even obtaining passwords to her Gmail and Facebook accounts, as the two were undergoing a bitter divorce in 2015. He was charged in August with eavesdropping and computer trespass. …The feds accused Kurson in 2020 of cyberstalking three people and harassing two others. But former President Donald Trump pardoned Kurson in the final hours of his presidency. The administration said that Kurson's ex-wife had written a letter to federal prosecutors imploring them to drop the charges. Kurson is a former associate and friend of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who previously owned Observer Media Group."

FROM THE DELEGATION

"Max Rose has a Fall-ing out," by City & State's Jeff Coltin: "Internal debates poured out into public Wednesday as Assembly Member Charles Fall rescinded his endorsement of former Rep. Max Rose's congressional campaign — because Rose's team had declined to immediately support the state Senate campaign of Fall's girlfriend, Bianca Rajpersaud. 'As the first African-American male to hold office in Staten Island, I will not bow out nor kiss the ring, or succumb to threats to satisfy the desire of those looking to strengthen their agenda that will only keep our communities voiceless,' Fall wrote in a statement released Wednesday morning. 'I am rescinding my endorsement of Max Rose.'"

AROUND NEW YORK

— Graduation rates in New York City rose to 81 percent last school year after the state eased requirements during the pandemic.

— City public schools will send home two Covid tests with every public school student on Friday ahead of the week-long midwinter break. But students won't be required to present a negative test before returning to school.

— A union election for a Staten Island Amazon warehouse has been set for March 25.

— Republicans are seeking to raise up to $3 million to fund a legal challenge to the state's congressional redistricting map.

— A Manhattan community board is asking the city to use federal infrastructure money to straighten out a notoriously tricky stretch of the Hudson River Greenway.

— Members of the state's congressional delegation are calling on the New York State Public Service Commission to investigate Con Edison's high bills.

— Ulster County has unveiled the first of its fleet of green buses.

— Adams met with drill rappers after criticizing the genre.

— The MTA is being sued for not providing Access-A-Ride users the same half-priced fares that are available to seniors or disabled riders of the subway and buses.

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: DHS' Sam Vinograd … Axios' Lachlan Markay … Betsy Fischer Martin … McClatchy's Kristin Roberts … CNN's Dianna Heitz … Curtis Tate … Kelsey Rohwer … Howard Megdal … Robert Giuffra … Greg Matusky … Edith Honan … Frederick Hill of FTI Consulting

MEDIAWATCH — "PR exec Torossian's firm secretly scrubs an industry news site it operated to tout itself, bash rivals," by Crain's Keith J. Kelly

— Jury in Sarah Palin v. New York Times libel trial learned of judge's plan to throw out suit, by POLITICO's Josh Gerstein

— Column: "NYC media hasn't treated Adams any worse than the white mayors, but he's on target about lack of newsroom diversity," by New York Daily News' Leonard Greene

— WaPo's Jacqueline Alemany is now an MSNBC and NBC News contributor. Announcement

SPOTTED at a fundraiser for former Bridgewater CEO Dave McCormick 's Senate campaign on Wednesday night at Joe's: Dina Powell McCormick, Michael Allen, Tony Sayegh, Hope Hicks, Jim Donovan, Reince Priebus, Pat Cipollone, Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Ziad Ojakli and Devon Spurgeon, Virginia Boney, Tim Adams, Dave Bohigian, Wayne Berman, David Feith, Deborah Lehr, Dave Urban, Joe and Jamie Wall, Doug and Michelle McCormick, Kristin Silverberg, Max and Eli Miller, Dave and Nicole Nason, Bruce Mehlman and Rob Nichols.

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Real Estate

"NYC Landlords Almost Never Get Arrested for Illegal DIY Evictions," by Investigative Reporters & Editors' Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship's Ishan Thakore: "Evicting tenants without getting a judge's order in Housing Court first is a crime in New York, and not an uncommon one. By law, landlords who try to evict tenants by harassment, intentionally cutting utilities or changing the locks can be arrested, issued a summons, and even go to jail for up to a year. The NYPD bears the responsibility to enforce the city and state's unlawful eviction laws, as detailed in police bulletins, legal guidances and the police patrol guide. But during the pandemic — a time of extraordinary hardship for renters and landlords alike — the police rarely did, even as thousands of tenants filed Housing Court cases against their landlords for the same acts."

"Appeals Court Voices Skepticism of Challenge to New York Rent Regulations," by Wall Street Journal's Laura Kusisto: "Federal appeals judges voiced skepticism Wednesday of a broad challenge to New York state's rent laws, citing decades of legal precedent upholding rent control and expressing concern about upending New York City's rental market. 'I'm not saying that rent control is a good thing,' Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Guido Calabresi said during the 90-minute hearing. But as a lower court judge, 'I'm bound by what I read the Supreme Court to have done in the past,' he said."

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