News : POLITICO New York Playbook: Primary Day, Act 1

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

POLITICO New York Playbook: Primary Day, Act 1

Jun 28, 2022

By Erin Durkin, Anna Gronewold and Julian Shen-Berro

Presented by Equinor

It's primary day in New York. Or one of them at least.

Only the intraparty contests for governor, lieutenant governor and Assembly are on your ballot today, thanks to the spring redistricting drama that caused a hasty redraw for congressional and state Senate lines. Those elections are now scheduled for August.

Among Democrats running for governor, it's Gov. Kathy Hochul's race to lose. It wasn't supposed to be this easy when she announced her reelection bid shortly after taking office in August. But her substantial leads in polling, fundraising and endorsements — combined with the power of incumbency she's used as her primary campaign strategy — have her in a sturdy position to prevail over New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Rep. Tom Suozzi when polls close today.

Hochul said Monday she had no concerns about low turnout during the first few days of early voting in what is expected to be a primary where the majority of voters stay home.

"It's been hot out," she said. "It's a strange time of year to have an election. People aren't accustomed to having elections in June. I think we're going to get the turnout we need so Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado and I are successful this Tuesday."

The path for her running mate is also strong, but less certain. Delgado took office only last month and faces progressive activist Ana Maria Archila (Williams' running mate ) and former New York City Council Member Diana Reyna (who is running alongside Suozzi). While he's poured money into ads and travel in the past several weeks, both of Delgado's challengers have had months to rally support, particularly Archila, who has earned a slate of big name progressive endorsements.

On the Republican side, Rep. Lee Zeldin appears to have the edge — and the benefit of wide establishment support — over former White House adviser Andrew Giuliani, former Westchester County executive Rob Astorino and businessman Harry Wilson. But everyone is prepared for a surprise surge from any of the candidates, even Zeldin himself.

"There's a saying in football that anything can happen on any given Sunday," Zeldin said during a stop in Albany yesterday. "When you have a lower turnout in an election, things can start going a different direction, so you have to really lean into it, take nothing for granted, and work hard."

The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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? Campaigning at W. 72nd Street Subway and E. 86th Street Subway (you can guess which ones) in the morning and watching votes come in at Tribeca Rooftop in the evening.

WHERE'S ERIC? Making a child care announcement, meeting with Rep. Adriano Espaillat and the mayor of Santo Domingo, voting in the primary, meeting with the chairman of Tata Consultancy Services North America, and appearing on "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah."

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What City Hall's reading

Judge strikes down New York City's noncitizen voting law, by POLITICO's Erin Durkin: A state court struck down a New York City law Monday that would have let noncitizens cast ballots in local elections. The measure, which did not affect state or federal contests, violates the state constitution and election law, a Staten Island judge said in an opinion. … City Council voted last year to let legal permanent residents and others authorized to work in the United States vote in elections for mayor, Council and other municipal offices. It was expected to make about 800,000 immigrants eligible to register to vote in local elections starting in December. But Republicans quickly sued to stop the measure.

Spending jumped in Adams' first budget, belying campaign rhetoric, by POLITICO's Sally Goldenberg: As a candidate, Mayor Eric Adams promised to rein in one of the largest municipal budgets in the United States. But a record $101.1 billion budget and a highest-in-a-decade spike in municipal spending under his first fiscal plan as mayor demonstrate he did not fulfill that vow. On the trail, Adams pledged to root out disorganization and reel in spending. "We operate our city in silos, and due to that, we are inefficient and inefficiencies will create the inequities structurally in our city," he said during a 2021 candidate forum. "And that's very important for us to understand — just pouring money into our city, not going to solve the problem." Then in April, he proposed a nearly $100 billion budget — one that handily exceeded the $98.7 billion final budget passed by his predecessor, Bill de Blasio, who was hardly known for his fiscal restraint.

"NYC Mayor Aide's Private Schedule Reveals Glimpse Into Adams's Priorities," by Bloomberg's Laura Nahmias: "To win the mayor's support in a quest to bring casinos to New York City, the head of Las Vegas Sands invited one of Eric Adams's closest advisers to his Park Avenue pied-a-terre: Chief of Staff Frank Carone. The casino mogul talked to Carone about building a gaming complex on the land surrounding the Mets stadium. It was a controversial idea billionaire Steve Cohen extolled eight days earlier when he hosted Carone and Adams at the Mets owner's executive suite at Citi Field. … In the first month of the Adams administration, a rush of real estate executives, campaign donors and lobbyists met with Carone at some of the city's swankiest restaurants and apartments, according to a copy of Carone's daily schedules."

"'Far, far too little': Lawmakers lament NYC's monkeypox vaccine supply," by Gothamist's Catalina Gonella: "New York City health officials are still waiting for additional doses of monkeypox vaccines, as presumed cases in the city climbed to 48 on Monday, officials said. Last Thursday, the city's health department began offering the two-dose JYNNEOS vaccine at Chelsea Sexual Health Clinic for people who may have been exposed to the virus. Within hours, no more walk-ins were available, and all appointments were booked through Monday, officials said. The department told people to check back in on Sunday for more appointments, but when the day came, it announced that the city was still waiting for additional doses."

"Mayor Adams says NYC will crack down on illegal trash disposal: 'We're going after the dumpers,'" by New York Daily News' Michael Gartland

" N.Y.C. Schools Are Forced to Cut Hundreds of Teachers as Funding Drops," by The New York Times' Hurubie Meko: "Nearly 77 percent of New York City district schools, about 1,200 out of 1,600 in the system, have seen their enrollments decline and are facing the budget cuts after Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council agreed to a municipal budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The budget reversed a policy under the previous mayor, Bill de Blasio, to keep funding for individual schools steady during the pandemic. Hundreds of teachers are being let go, or 'excessed,' by school principals, and placed into a districtwide hiring pool — leading to an uproar among parents, educators and even some of the elected officials who voted for the reduced budgets."

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Women locked up at Rikers Island have higher rates of mental illness than men — 82 percent compared to 49 percent, according to a new report from criminal justice groups, including the Lippman Commission, the panel led by former state chief judge Jonathan Lippman that produced the plan to close the troubled jail complex. Women have a lower recidivism rate than men when released from jail, with a 49 percent lower rate of rearrests for violent felonies and 40 percent lower new arrests overall.

Seventy percent of female inmates are parents or caregivers, compared to 54 percent of men. The report outlines strategies to cut the number of women and transgender people at Rikers to under 100 — the target under the city's plan to close the jail — including by expanding diversion programs. The groups also recommend that the city consider converting the vacant Lincoln Correctional Facility in Harlem into a standalone site for women and transgender detainees, rather than housing them in a new jail in Kew Gardens as the current plan calls for. — Erin Durkin

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WHAT ALBANY'S READING

"More than 170,000 early votes cast in New York," by Spectrum's Nick Reisman: "Nine days of early voting in New York have concluded, and 178,223 people statewide have cast ballots so far ahead of the June 28 primary, according to unofficial tallies from the state Board of Elections. … That is a small fraction of the 8.5 million active voters who are registered as either Democrats or Republicans and are eligible to cast ballots in the primary contests."

" Trump-pardoned NYC real estate executive gives $69K to Hochul in final days of primary campaign," by Daily News' Chris Sommerfeldt: "A scandal-scarred real estate investor who spent time in prison for money laundering forked over $69,000 to Gov. Hochul's campaign last week — a big financial boost in the final days of the Democratic gubernatorial race, according to state records. Alex Adjmi, who heads the New York City-based real estate company A&H Acquisitions, gave the hefty contribution — the largest amount allowed by law — on Friday, campaign finance filings show."

"N.Y. agencies targeted in class-action suit over hospital discharge delays for people with disabilities," by Times Union's Rachel Silberstein: "A federal class-action suit filed last week charges that the state Department of Health (DOH) and Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD violate the rights of hundreds of New Yorkers with developmental disabilities each year by keeping them in restrictive institutional settings unnecessarily. The case… names eight individuals with disabilities who against their wishes are locked away in hospital rooms or prison-like facilities despite having been approved for placement in community-based housing."

#UpstateAmerica: "They are the neatest little creatures," an assistant professor of epidemiology and disease ecology at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry says, of ticks, and his research that involves using himself as human bait. "I could do this all day."

FROM THE DELEGATION

"Bill de Blasio says he no longer supports AIPAC and wishes Nina Turner was in Congress," by Jewish Insider's Matthew Kassel: "Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is facing scrutiny from local Jewish community leaders over recent comments in which he came out forcefully against AIPAC and said he no longer supports the pro-Israel lobbying group because of its opposition to a friend and fellow progressive Democrat, Nina Turner, in a Cleveland-area House primary last month. 'They have changed in a way that is unacceptable to me because they have attacked people I believe in,' de Blasio, who is now running for an open seat in New York's redrawn 10th Congressional District, said."

LET'S MAKE A DEAL — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he's reached an agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency that could unlock an estimated $250 million in federal funds for New York hospitals. The agreement creates a pathway for reimbursement on previously rejected expenses that hospitals incurred in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Schumer's office. That includes costs for employee transportation, child care and housing expenses, which will now be eligible for reimbursement. "This flexibility will unlock hundreds of millions in federal funding for New York hospitals, as well as hospitals across the country, who took the necessary actions to protect heroic doctors, nurses, staff, and their families," Schumer said in a statement. — Shannon Young

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TRUMP'S NEW YORK

"Company buying Trump's social media app faces subpoenas," by The Associated Press: "The company planning to buy Donald Trump's new social media business has disclosed a federal grand jury investigation that it says could impede or even prevent its acquisition of the Truth Social app. Shares of Digital World Acquisition Corp. dropped 10% in morning trading Monday as the company revealed that it has received subpoenas from a grand jury in New York. The Justice Department subpoenas follow an ongoing probe by the Securities and Exchange Commission into whether Digital World broke rules by having substantial talks about buying Trump's company starting early last year before Digital World sold stock to the public for the first time in September, just weeks before its announcement that it would be buying Trump's company."

AROUND NEW YORK

— Hochul signed a bill expanding the number of transit workers covered by a law making assaulting them a felony.

— Former city Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi detailed how clashes between ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio hampered the city's pandemic response.

— Adams called on Hochul to "lead the charge" against the Supreme Court's gun ruling, adding city officials "can't just classify something as a sensitive location."

— Hochul appointed Colin Ahern — formerly with the New York City cyber command — to become the state's first chief cyber officer.

— A polling place worker in Buffalo pleaded guilty to stamping Mayor Byron Brown's name as a write-in candidate on multiple ballots in November.

— Reports of "subway surfing" have jumped by nearly 363 percent since 2020.

— Charges were downgraded against a man who allegedly assaulted Rudy Giuliani, with the suspect's lawyer saying he only tapped him on the back.

— Broadway custodians, bathroom attendants and elevator operators will get raises under a new contract.

— Ten people, including two firefighters, were injured in a fire at a Sunset Park e-bike shop.

— NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell intervened to save the job of a decorated Latino cop who called a suspect the N-word during an arrest.

— A popular subway saxophonist was arrested by the NYPD.

— More than a dozen abortion providers that operate over 60 clinics will receive the first $10 million from a state fund.

— The city announced more than a dozen new school superintendents.

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SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Marc Kasowitz ... Elon Musk … NYT's David Kirkpatrick ... Laura Tyson ... Ziad Ojakli … Kurt Eichenwald ... Erin McPike … Brunswick Group's Stephanie Benedict ... Comcast's Brian Roberts … Bloomberg's Anna Edgerton … CNN's Yaffa Fredrick … AP's Brendan Farrington … Bill Hulse of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness … Ashley Marquis of Jefferson Strategies … Pete Nonis … Moses Marx … Mike Lurie

MAKING MOVES — Claudia Cereceda, a de Blasio administration alum who worked on Maya Wiley's mayoral campaign and Elizabeth Warren's presidential race, has been named chief of staff at the Department of Parks & Recreation under Commissioner Sue Donoghue. Cereceda was previously deputy chief of staff at the agency. … Dan Hoffmann is now media manager for global corporate affairs at Amazon. He is a former senior director at Bully Pulpit Interactive and is a founding member of mental health nonprofit Project Healthy Minds. … Simone Kanter, formerly deputy press secretary for Gov. Hochul, is heading to Dan Goldman's campaign in NY-10 to be communications director.

MEDIAWATCH — " Alex Wagner to Succeed Rachel Maddow at MSNBC," by NYT's Benjamin Mullin

— Sahalie Donaldson is joining City & State as a reporter.

WEEKEND WEDDING — Liana Baker, who was recently promoted to be managing editor of the U.S. deals team at Bloomberg News, and Jeffrey Kleeblatt, executive director in legal and compliance at Morgan Stanley, wed Sunday at the Edgewood Country Club in River Vale, N.J. The couple met on JSwipe in late 2015 after both having ski photos on their profiles and soon discovered they lived across the street in Midtown Manhattan. Pic by Andrew Todes

SPOTTED: Lauren Hirsch, Lauren Tara-Capra, Ed Hammond, Katie Roof, Jon Harari, Scott Deveau, Kiel Porter, Elizabeth Fournier, Leslie Mechanic, Sean Marcantonio, Liz Coffin-Karlin, Jessica DiNapoli, Meaghan Byrne, Aaron Kirchfeld and Matthew Monks.

Real Estate

"Can Adams' citywide affordable housing plan finally tear down the NIMBY wall?" by City & State's Tim Murphy: "New York City Mayor Eric Adams – at times wearing opaque John Lennon-style sunglasses – stood on the roof of a 29-story Jehovah's Witness Hotel, which had recently been turned into an affordable supportive housing complex in Dumbo, proudly announcing his ambitious new housing plan for New York City. It was a blueprint with a wide swath of promises – from facilitating homeownership to getting homeless people into permanent housing to building more affordable units – even if many housing advocates complained that the plan was short on benchmarks, and that the roughly $2 billion the city had just apportioned annually for the hydra-headed campaign over the next decade was only half of what was needed."

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