News : POLITICO New York Playbook: Gubernatorial ad campaign heats up

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

POLITICO New York Playbook: Gubernatorial ad campaign heats up

Apr 19, 2022

By Erin Durkin, Anna Gronewold and Deanna Garcia

Presented by National Grid

Here's the scene: Albany's shrouded in the darkness of night, but Gov. Kathy Hochul's up burning the midnight oil in the Executive Mansion.

Here's the pitch: Since taking office in August, she has invested in public schools and teachers, cut taxes for the middle class, and cracked down on illegal guns.

"Kathy Hochul: A governor who works as hard as you do," the narrator says in closing the 30-second spot debuting today, the first time Hochul has hit the airwaves for reelection.

Her campaign has now booked $931,000 between broadcast and cable television through April 25, according to tracking service AdImpact. The vast majority — $700,000 — is headed toward New York City, but it also targets the Albany, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse areas. The buy is a drop in the bucket of the $21.9 million she last reported in her campaign account, but she's spent months sitting on that money while her opponents with far less funds mounted attacks for weeks and months.

To date, Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi has spent about $3 million on TV ads, while GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin has spent $2.3 million. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who did not enter the Democratic primary field, has spent $2.8 million on ads attempting to rehabilitate his image. Republican businessperson Harry Wilson, who pledged to spend $12 million of his own money on a campaign, has booked out more than $7 million in ads through the June primary.

They have also quickly pivoted anti-Hochul attack strategies as circumstances warrant. Suozzi, for example, debuted an ad on Monday jointly funded with lieutenant governor candidate Diana Reyna, her first time on air. It comes a week after Reyna's odds in the primary increased following the arrest and resignation of now-former Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin. In it, Reyna and Suozzi, who is facing an ethics probe himself, criticize the Hochul administration as "same old Albany corruption."

Hochul's campaign is expected to keep up her TV presence through the June primary with similar purchases. And today her team also launched a statewide, multi-channel paid digital effort that includes two new spots, "Who Needs It" and " Get Ahead."

Still, she, too, might have to pivot as she scrambles to select a new lieutenant governor and Benjamin's lingering status on the ballot remains unclear. Maybe a "Help Wanted" ad?

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? Making a transportation infrastructure announcement.

WHERE'S ERIC? Making a climate announcement on Staten Island.

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What City Hall's reading

"Former NYC Mayor Bloomberg returns to City Hall after eight years out in cold," by New York Daily News' Michael Gartland: "Mayor Adams welcomed former Mayor Michael Bloomberg to City Hall for the first time in more than eight years Monday, a gesture of goodwill — and a marked departure from former Mayor Bill de Blasio, who kept the philanthropist at arm's length for the entirety of his tenure. Bloomberg was in City Hall's Blue Room for an announcement he'd be donating $50 million for summer learning programs at city charter schools. But his appearance also served to reinforce the fact that Adams is taking a much different approach than de Blasio when it comes to their predecessor. Instead of portraying himself as the anti-Bloomberg, as de Blasio did, Adams said Monday that as the city continues to recover from COVID, he's relied on the billionaire media mogul for advice — and that it would be a 'handicap' not to."

"Mayor Adams holding off on new COVID restrictions as NYC nears 'medium' risk level," by New York Daily News' Michel Elsen-Rooney and Chis Sommerfeldt: "Mayor Adams would not commit Monday to reinstating some mask and vaccine mandates in the event that the city's coronavirus risk level reaches 'medium' — even though his health team recommends it. Guidance from Adams' Health Department holds that he should consider mandating masks in schools and vaccination proof for indoor settings like restaurants again if the city hits the 'medium' level, which is defined as when the average infection rate surpasses 0.2%. On Friday, Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan said he expects that the city will surpass the medium risk threshold this week. Still, Adams said Monday morning that he may not put the mask and vaccine requirements back in place unless other more troubling coronavirus data points begin surging as well."

— "High court won't hear New York City teacher vaccine dispute," by The Associated Press

" More Brooklyn Residents Claim Forgeries in Democratic Party-Linked Push to Oust Primary Rivals," by The City's George Joseph and Yoav Gonen: "Reon Sealey, 21, writes his name in a hasty, hard-to-read scribble. So on Friday, when reporters from THE CITY visited his Brownsville, Brooklyn, apartment, he was surprised to see a document with a clear cursive signature purporting to be his — and misspelling his last name, without the second 'e.' The document is an official filing submitted to the city Board of Elections, aimed at knocking a Democratic candidate running for a low-level party position off the June primary ballot. 'This is not my signature, 100% it's not,' said the young man, wearing a hoodie on a windy day outside his apartment building. His upstairs neighbor, Osasogie Airhiavbere, told THE CITY she too didn't sign that form, which showed a tidy version of her signature right beside Sealey's."

"NYC drivers must again move cars twice a week for alternate-side parking starting July 5," by New York Daily News' Clayton Guse: "Starting July 5, New York City drivers will once again have to move their cars twice a week for street sweeping, officials announced Monday. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio first amended the city's alternate side parking rules on March 17, 2020, reducing alternate side days from two days a week to only once a week. The order, which came early in the COVID-19 pandemic, was intended to help people stay inside. The change has remained in place for more than two years — giving motorists an extended break while also allowing the city's streets to become dirtier."

— It was Jessica Tisch's first act after Mayor Eric Adams officially named her sanitation commissioner Monday morning.

"Chromebooks or Handguns? Sensors NYC Mayor Wants to Install on Subway Can Struggle to Tell the Difference ," by Motherboard's Aaron Gordon: "Evolv Technology claims that its AI-powered sensors can automatically detect handguns and other weapons with 'the highest degree of accuracy,' and has already deployed the devices in school districts in South Carolina and Indiana. But at a meeting of the Urbana School District Board of Education in November, Kevin Rabinowitz, a salesperson for the security company, was asked about whether there is a setting that allows the weapons detectors to detect handguns as threats, but not Chromebooks, which had been setting off the detectors about 60 to 70 percent of the time. 'There are settings you can put it on to miss the Chromebooks,' Rabinowitz said, 'but you'll also miss some handguns.'"

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WHAT ALBANY'S READING

"First televised debate is set in N.Y. Democratic race for governor; Hochul's campaign is noncommittal on joining," by Daily News' Tim Balk: "NBC New York said Monday that it plans to host a TV debate in the Democratic primary for governor on June 16, but Gov. Hochul's campaign declined to say if she will attend. The governor holds a commanding lead in the race, according to polling. Jerrel Harvey, a spokesman for Hochul, said her campaign was weighing whether to participate in the debate. Hochul, a moderate former congresswoman, is facing long-shot challenges from city Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Nassau, Suffolk, Queens). Williams is running to Hochul's left, and Suozzi is running to her right. Williams and Suozzi both plan to attend the June 16 debate, their campaigns said Monday. Candidates in the primary are not required by law to participate in any of the debates, said John Conklin, a spokesman for the state Board of Elections."

— Hochul sat down with her predecessor's preferred interviewer, WAMC's Alan Chartock, for the first time and here's the full transcript.

" Democratic leadership wants to create 'Fair Deal Party' to bolster Hochul," by Times Union's Josh Solomon: "State Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs is looking at two upcoming internal deadlines for resolving what he views as potential challenges in the upcoming election season. First, the potential replacement of Brian Benjamin as the party's nominee for lieutenant governor, following his resignation last week after he was indicted on federal bribery and campaign finance charges. Second, whether it's vital to establish an additional party line, the 'Fair Deal Party,' to bolster the Democratic Party's primary winners in the November general election."

" Harry Wilson vies for second ballot line in governor's race," by Spectrum's Nick Reisman: "Republican candidate for governor Harry Wilson could get access to an independent ballot line this fall with the group Unite NY, potentially keeping his electoral hopes alive heading into the general election. Wilson and Unite NY, however, will first have to reach the far higher threshold of an independent ballot line being approved: 45,000 signatures of registered voters, including 500 signatures from at least half of the 26 Congressional districts in the state by the end of May."

" New Benjamin lawyer floats same defense that helped de Blasio avoid indictment," by Kevin Sheehan and Bruce Golding: "Disgraced ex-Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin showed up in court Monday with ex-Mayor Bill de Blasio's former defense lawyer — who immediately floated the same theory that helped get de Blasio off the hook in a 'pay-to-play' corruption probe. Barry Berke appeared to telegraph his planned strategy on behalf of Benjamin, who resigned last week following his indictment in an alleged bribery scheme involving more than $50,000 in illegal donations to his campaign committees. 'This is a very unusual political corruption case because the charges are based solely on political contributions and no personal benefits,' Berke said during an appearance in Manhattan federal court."

#UpstateAmerica: "Is it an ungodly stain or a divine message created by the Creator? Father Stepanos Doudoukjian, parish priest at St. Peter Armenian Church in Watervliet, is a true believer the wet image that welcomed parishioners on the church floor Easter morning was none other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God himself." via WNYT NewsChannel 13's Dan Levy

A message from National Grid:

Biden and the Boroughs

"Trump-appointed judge strikes down federal COVID-19 travel mask mandate; still need to wear a mask on NYC subways," by New York Daily News' Dave Goldiner, Tim Balk, and Michael Gartland: "A federal judge in Florida struck down a 14-month-old federal public transit mask mandate on Monday, in a ruling that could spell an early departure for forced masking on planes and other forms of mass transit, but did not appear to have an instant impact on COVID rules in the New York subway. The ruling from Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, a 35-year-old jurist appointed to the federal bench by President Donald Trump, said that U.S. health authorities overstepped their authority by enacting the mandate. ...The MTA, which operates the city's subways and buses, said it would continue to require riders to wear masks."

FEELIN' 22

ELECTION FORECAST: Ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, POLITICO has forecast how every single midterm race is leaning. New York's governor's race is rated likely Democratic. POLITICO senior campaigns and elections editor and chief polling analyst Steve Shepard notes that Republicans haven't won a governor's race in New York since 2002, and Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul is spending her first year in office building her credentials to withstand a likely Republican wave. New York's Senate race, where Sen. Chuck Schumer is up for reelection, is rated solid Democratic.

New York Governor Race

POLITICO

AROUND NEW YORK

— The Supreme Court will not revive an attempt by New York and three other states to overturn the $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions.

— The City Council proposed amendments that would delay the effective date of a law requiring job postings to say how much the position pays.

— Food pantries have been scaling back distributions due to a lack of funding, shortage of volunteers, and increase in food prices.

— A new dashboard tracks how far the city is from reaching its pledge to use 70 percent renewable energy by 2030.

— A rooftop park opened at Pier 57 on the Hudson River.

— Children with autism delivered subway announcements at 11 stations.

— New York state collected $38.8 billion more over the last 12 months compared to the previous fiscal year, according to Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

— The Teamsters are pushing City Hall to halt a $52 million fuel contract awarded to a company controlled by grocery magnate John Catsimatidis as the union amps up the pressure on the billionaire to settle a labor strike.

— Last night's heavy snow caused power outages throughout upstate New York that left 100,000 individuals in the dark.

— A voting registration deadline before the election can hurt the voting turnout, according to a New York Civil Liberties report.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Bloomberg's Felix Gillette … CNN's Emily Kuhn … Bloomberg Associates' Seth Solomonow … NBC's Sheinelle Jones … James Littlefair

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SPOTTED: Lauren Culbertson Grieco and Chris Grieco, Garrett and Rosane Gravesen, Caroline Zager, Christie Hatges, Kick van der Wel, Alex Zaman, Oliver Nicoll and Arash Sani.

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Real Estate

"You Can't Stay Here: Finding housing for street homeless is a bureaucratic nightmare," by Crain's Caroline Spivack and Brian Pascus: "Adams' visible street clearings and the deliberate, often unseen daily work of outreach workers are two very different fronts of the city's multidecade struggle against homelessness. Both seek to address the unsheltered population, which has doubled since the mid-1990s, even as city spending on homeless services has quadrupled—to $2.8 billion last year. But neither effort can be successful without the city acknowledging the crux of the issue: No matter how many interagency teams and outreach workers are combing the streets to aid unsheltered New Yorkers, there simply is not enough housing to move people to. And years of policy missteps have created a tangle of red tape to get people into the limited housing that is available so thick that people are often stuck in limbo."

"Landlords who got aid are illegally raising rents: AG," by Real Deal's Suzannah Cavanaugh: "Tenants have reported getting lease renewals with rent increases after their landlords received money from the state's emergency rental assistance program, the attorney general said Monday. Those hikes violate the program's rules. ERAP provides money to owners to cover arrears, but landlords must keep rents steady for a year after receiving the first relief payment. 'Landlords who accepted payments from the state yet are still raising rents are double-dipping and breaking the law,' James said, adding that some lease renewals may have been generated automatically by management systems."

— "Housing advocates hope bigger bonuses will spur NYC brokers to work more with low-income renters," by Gothamist's Danny Lewis

" Council Housing Chair Proposes Steeper Fees for Building Owners With Repeat Heat Outages," by City Limits' David Brand: "The chair of the City Council's housing committee wants the city to crack down on property owners whose buildings rack up persistent heat and hot water outages. Bronx Councilmember Pierina Sanchez introduced a bill Thursday that would more than double reinspection fees for landlords who accrue multiple hazard violations within a 12-month period. The current inspection fee is $200, but Sanchez's bill would increase the cost to $500 after the second inspection. It would also give the city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) the power to raise the price to $1,000 during heat season, from October to May, when building owners are required to maintain indoor temperatures above a particular threshold."

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