| | | | |  | | By Erin Durkin, Anna Gronewold and Deanna Garcia | As the country marks a million deaths from Covid-19, here's where New York's toll stands: 71,103 people statewide, and 40,261 in New York City. And counting. New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul both released statements yesterday mourning the national milestone , and ordered flags to be lowered to half staff in honor of the dead. Both also acknowledged that the dying hasn't stopped, even if the situation is nothing like what New York saw in 2020. "It is also an appropriate moment to recommit ourselves to preventing any more death from this virus, as we do our best to continue on with our lives and the city's recovery," Adams said. Hochul offered: "I don't want any more New Yorkers to go through the pain of losing a loved one to this awful virus." Just as these displays of mourning were happening, New York was turning redder on the CDC's map of risk levels, with counties on Long Island and in the Hudson Valley added to the high transmission category. New York is once again one of the nation's leading hotspots for Covid-19. The policy response to this from local leaders has been to ... not change much of anything. When the city's alert level jumped from low to medium, Adams did not hold a press conference to sound the alarm. It was left to the health commissioner, Ashwin Vasan, to send out a written statement announcing the new alert level. When asked about reimposing vaccine requirements, Adams has said "we're not there yet." Booster shot rates have languished at just over a third. The latest change in the city's rules is to allow unvaccinated high school students to attend their proms. Hochul has been sending out more regular updates on the state's numbers, but while she responded to the Omicron wave in December by imposing a mask or vaccination mandate in public places, she's shown little interest in that this time around. "I think we are in a place where psychologically and socially and economically, people are largely done with the pandemic," NYU's Celine Gounder tells AFP of New York's current moment. "(But) the pandemic is not over. So you have a disconnect between what is happening epidemiologically and what's happening in terms of how people are responding." 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? In Albany with no public events scheduled. WHERE'S ERIC? Making an education announcement, meeting the mayor of Uskudar, Turkey, and speaking at the opening of Caton Flats.
| | | | 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. | | | | | |  | What City Hall's reading | | Finger pointing ensues with push for local control of city streets 'dead in the water,' by POLITICO's Danielle Muoio Dunn: Mayor Eric Adams has said he wants the city to have full control over its streets, a prospect Gov. Kathy Hochul has said she supports after years of stonewalling from past Albany lawmakers. But with mere weeks left in the legislative session, the push to give the city so-called home rule over its streets is "dead in the water," according to a source who has been working closely on the issue, but requested anonymity due to the ongoing negotiations. The blame game has already begun. State Assemblymember William Magnarelli, chair of the transportation committee, told Streetsblog on Wednesday that the city failed to actually craft a proposal that would give it the ability to set speed limits and install automated enforcement cameras without prior approval from Albany lawmakers … But on Thursday Adams defended his handling of the matter, stating he will file lobbying records that "will show the engagement we had" with the Assembly and Senate to get the job done. — "An off-the-rails trip to Albany last week by city Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez put at risk the city's push to run red light and speed cameras around the clock, according to DOT sources and lawmakers with knowledge of his meetings upstate." "NYC public school kids to be screened for dyslexia, Eric Adams says," by New York Post's Cayla Bamberger and Sam Raskin: "All Big Apple public school students will be evaluated for dyslexia as part of a broader effort to boost resources for children with the learning disability, Mayor Eric Adams vowed Thursday. 'We are going to have the largest, most comprehensive approach to supporting students with dyslexia in the country,' Adams — who has said he didn't realize he had dyslexia until after struggling in high school — said at a press conference in Upper Manhattan's P.S. 125. … The effort to get all students screened will start with a pilot program and grow from there over the next few years, he said." — The plan will also require all elementary schools to adopt a phonics-based reading program in the coming school year. "'Be very afraid': Mayor Adams predicts peril in NYC if Supreme Court repeals gun license law ," by New York Daily News' Chris Sommerfeldt: "Welcome to Fear City 2.0. New Yorkers should be 'very afraid' of what will happen on city streets if the Supreme Court strikes down a state law requiring a license for carrying a concealed firearm, Mayor Adams said Thursday. The Supreme Court is in coming weeks expected to issue a decision in a case brought by a New York gun group that wants the longstanding weapon license law repealed — and Adams said at a press conference in Harlem that he has a hunch about how the top court will rule. 'After what we saw the Supreme Court did on abortion, we should be very afraid,' he told reporters, referencing a leaked draft ruling from the court's right-wing majority that would revoke the Roe v. Wade decision on reproductive rights." "How a New Pro-Israel Group Aims to Sway N.Y. Elections," by The New York Times' Dana Rubinstein: "In the past year, the left-wing effort to boycott Israel over its treatment of Palestinians has won over The Harvard Crimson and the Irish novelist Sally Rooney. It's even affected ice cream: Ben & Jerry's has refused to sell its confections in the occupied territories. It has also made inroads in New York, home to the world's second-largest Jewish community, where the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement has gotten support from the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, the influential far-left political group. But now a new group, backed by a billionaire hedge fund manager, is seeking to counter that movement by creating a political action network to support candidates in state legislative and local races who embrace Israel, and oppose candidates who do not." "NYC homeless advocates say Mayor Eric Adams' street sweeps aren't working," by NPR's Emma Bowman: "Months into his first term in office, New York City Mayor Eric Adams is touting early progress in his administration's effort to clear the streets of homeless encampments. … The administration's goal is to put homeless New Yorkers on a path to permanent housing and stability, as part of the broader plan to improve public safety. The mayor's office pointed to the latest encampment sweep numbers as a sign that he is following through on his promises. But homeless advocates say the approach is a return to misguided tactics. They argue that the policing-focused strategies the city is using to persuade people to go to shelters in fact perpetuate the decades-long crisis."
| | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | "Lawyers for ex-Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin call political corruption case 'most aggressive' in history," by Daily News' Molly Crane-Newman: "Lawyers for Brian Benjamin argued the feds' 'aggressive' case against him was of historic proportions Thursday as a judge set a trial date the disgraced ex-lieutenant governor hopes to avoid. During a brief pretrial hearing at Manhattan Federal Court, Benjamin's lawyer Barry Berke alleged his client had been railroaded by the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office and insisted what he did was 'absolutely not a crime.' 'We believe this is the most aggressive political corruption criminal theory ever pursued in any case in any court, and we think [that] for good reason,' said Berke. 'We have not found a single case that has ever been brought that is remotely close to this case.' Benjamin's defense team told Judge Paul Oetken they planned to file a motion to dismiss the government's bribery case. … Oetken set a Jan. 23, 2023 trial date, which Berke said Benjamin is hopeful 'will not take place' after he files a motion to toss the case." "New York said it cracked down on marijuana 'gifting' — Or did it? " by WNYC's Jon Campbell and Caroline Lewis: "The confusing case of the cease-and-desist letters comes as state officials struggle to rein in the legal gray area of 'gifting' marijuana, despite threatening to withhold cannabis licenses from anyone found to engage in the practice. Officials have also pledged to impose fines or criminal penalties. But OCM has repeatedly refused to say which businesses it sent the letters to, leaving unanswered questions about what areas of the state have been targeted for enforcement and how successful or unsuccessful the crackdown effort has been. Gov. Kathy Hochul also pledged a new era of transparency when she took office last August." OP-ED from Gov. Kathy Hochul: "New York Promises Your Employees Reproductive Freedom," for The Wall Street Journal : "Under my watch, we will always offer safe harbor to those seeking access to abortion and ensure equal protection of all of our people—of every sexual orientation and gender identity. If you're a company considering relocation here, I assure you that you will never have to distance yourself from our policies via press release or pay for your employees to leave the state for medical care. Employees want to work for companies that respect their rights. Consumers are also watching these decisions. The best way for companies to send the message that they value the health and well-being of their workers is to operate in a state that does as well." "Supporters of Adult Survivors Act grow frustrated with inaction in NYS Assembly," by New York State Public Radio's Karen DeWitt: "A spokesman for Lavine, Matt Cantor, says the Assemblymember 'met personally with Ms. Hoechstetter for approximately a half an hour earlier in the week and candidly discussed the legislative process, urging her to continue her fight and urging her not to give up.' Hoechstetter says those comments made her feel patronized. 'Honestly it's bulls##t, to keep telling survivors to have to drag ourselves out to tell our stories, to grovel and beg and plead,' she said." — " New York Voting Rights Act Begins Moving in Senate But Remains Stalled in Assembly," by Gotham Gazette's Ethan Geringer-Sameth: "Whether it will move in the Assembly, which has lagged behind the Senate on voting legislation and other reform issues in recent years, is anybody's guess. The Assembly elections committee met Tuesday to pass legislation that would shorten the voter registration deadline and make it harder to discard affidavit ballots, but the NYVRA was not taken up." WATCH: Actual crash footage from the untimely end of GOP Assemblymember Andy Goodell's stolen BMW obtained by the New York Post. #UpstateAmerica: Prom is not the time to try pot, Rensselaer County law enforcement say.
| | | | DON'T MISS DIGITAL FUTURE DAILY - OUR TECHNOLOGY NEWSLETTER, RE-IMAGINED: Technology is always evolving, and our new tech-obsessed newsletter is too! Digital Future Daily unlocks the most important stories determining the future of technology, from Washington to Silicon Valley and innovation power centers around the world. Readers get an in-depth look at how the next wave of tech will reshape civic and political life, including activism, fundraising, lobbying and legislating. Go inside the minds of the biggest tech players, policymakers and regulators to learn how their decisions affect our lives. Don't miss out, subscribe today. | | | | | | | FROM THE DELEGATION | | ANALYSIS: "Rep. Tom Reed resignation results in 'multilevel mess'," by Buffalo News' Robert J. McCarthy: "Republican leaders throughout New York's sprawling 23rd Congressional District are today dealing with a major case of political confusion stemming from former Rep. Tom Reed's Tuesday resignation from the House seat he held for almost 12 years. And none are happy about it. County GOP officials and state Chairman Nicholas A. Langworthy question why the Corning-based Reed would suddenly leave Congress for a lobbying post amid the state's redistricting effort in legal limbo and subject voters to even more uncertainty through a special election to fill the post for the rest of 2022. 'I'm very unhappy with the current circumstances. There was absolutely no communication beforehand,' Langworthy said Wednesday. 'We are now faced with the cost of running a special election and an inordinate amount of political confusion thrust upon the voters. This is a lot of burden on ordinary people in the summer months," Langworthy said." "N.Y. lawmakers ask NYC Mayor Adams for help in getting answers about Ground Zero toxins ," by New York Daily News' Michael McCauliff: "Democratic New York Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Jerrold Nadler hope to have better luck with Mayor Adams in trying to get to the bottom of New York City's deadly smoke and dust from the 2001 terror attacks. The two House veterans have long complained that then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani's administration didn't do all it could have to protect the thousands of 9/11 responders and survivors who are now sick — or dead — from their exposure to Ground Zero toxins. But the city had never given a full accounting of what the mayor and his team knew about the situation, and when they knew it, the lawmakers say."
| | AROUND NEW YORK | | — Adams has lost upwards of $5,800 by taking his paychecks in crypto-currency. — Attorney General Tish James sued three school bus companies for allegedly breaking laws against idling. — The city will hold its first annual Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Parade. — City schools are struggling to spend all their federal aid due to supply chain troubles and burned out staff. — Adams said he's looking into taking a "deep dive" into the police disciplinary process. — Personal license prices for seats in the new Buffalo Bills stadium start at $500 for general seating and hit as much as $16,500 for premium seating. — New York state officials and the New York State WIC Program are monitoring baby formula supply chain disruptions. — State lawmakers are considering a bill to authorize overdose prevention centers across the state and allow them to be funded with public money. — Electric bills are expected to jump 12 percent this summer. — Dozens of Council members and the head of New Yorkers for Parks are urging Adams to follow through on his parks promise.
| | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Stephen Colbert … NBC's Ken Dilanian and Nataly Lado … NYT's Mark Mazzetti … former Rep. Chris Gibson (R-N.Y.) … CNN's Brian Fung … Arjun Pai … Alexandra Zeitz … Matt Gorton SPOTTED at an intimate book party celebrating Ian Bremmer's new book "The Power of Crisis" hosted by former Representative and Wilson Center President Emerita Jane Harman (D-Calif.) ($25.20 on Amazon): UK Amb. Karen Pierce, Molly Ball, Justin Smith, Jonathan Swan, New Zealand Amb. Rosemary Banks, Margaret Carlson, Anita and Tim McBride, Ashley Parker, Vali Nasr, Serbian Amb. Marko Djuric, Paula Dobriansky, John Emerson, French Amb. Philippe Etienne, Canadian Amb. Kirsten Hillman, Rafe Sagalyn, Alexsandra Sanford, Georgian Amb. David Zalkaliani, Italian Amb. Mariangela Zappia and Virginia Coyne.
| | Real Estate | | "Manhattan Apartment Rents Hit Record With Intense Summer Ahead," by Bloomberg's Jennifer Epstein: "Manhattan apartment rents soared in April to a record high for a third consecutive month, and signs point to even costlier rates on the horizon. Tenants paid a median of $3,870 on new leases signed last month, according to a report Thursday by appraiser Miller Samuel Inc. and brokerage Douglas Elliman Real Estate. That's up 6.2% from the previous record set in March and 39% from April 2021. In raw numbers, the median rent jumped $226 from March to April, much bigger than the $14 increase from February to March." " How Preservationists Are Losing the Fight Against Luxury Real Estate," by the New York Times' Julie Satow: "After weeks of waiting, Patrick Ciccone, a historic preservationist and author, was looking forward to finally arguing his case. On a brisk Sunday morning, he arrived at the barnlike town hall in Durham, N.Y., to meet with the town supervisor, Shawn Marriott. But before Mr. Ciccone could get a dialogue going, Mr. Marriott handed him what looked to be a photocopied statement with two typed sentences. 'Effective immediately,' Mr. Ciccone was dismissed as chair of the Durham Historic Preservation Commission." " Postponement of BQE repair funding by Mayor Adams raises 'grave concern' among city lawmakers," by amNewYork's Kevin Duggan: "Almost $200 million in Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) repair funds may be shifted out of this year's city budget if Mayor Eric Adams gets his way — raising concerns among local lawmakers that City Hall is kicking the can down the road when it comes to keeping the highway's crumbling triple-cantilever section safe. The mayor's Executive Budget proposes to cut $180.5 million from the Department of Transportation's spending on BQE fixes this year — a drop from $225.1 million to just $44.6 million — and moves those funds into later years, according to a City Council briefing document from Thursday." | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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