| | | | |  | | By Erin Durkin, Anna Gronewold and Julian Shen-Berro | Presented by Instacart | New York City has a new budget after the City Council voted 44 to 6 late last night to approve a $101 billion spending plan for the next fiscal year — the first under Mayor Eric Adams and Speaker Adrienne Adams. They got it done early, the late-night Council session notwithstanding — with more than two weeks to go before a budget deadline. It was not without contention, as several progressive members voted no, objecting to cuts to schools' budgets, what they called too much money for the NYPD, and too little for affordable housing, sanitation and other priorities. School spending, in particular, became an 11th hour fight — and one that will continue despite the Council's blessing of the budget. Individual schools will lose $215 million in funding due to declines in the number of students enrolled, as federal relief funds that had been used to prop up schools' bottom lines dried up. City public schools have lost some 120,000 students in recent years. Schools have historically lost funding when they lose when enrollment dips, but that system was suspended due to the pandemic. Adams plans to put it back in place and the cuts were met with protests Monday at local schools and City Hall. Despite voting to approve the plan, the speaker and other Council members say they'll seek to restore the cash before the new school year starts in September. Otherwise, with the help of a last-minute spike in tax revenue, the budget will add some cash for parks, trash pickup, raises for human services workers, and capital spending for housing construction. "We were able to achieve an early adopted budget because we leaned into areas of agreement, rather than disagreement," Mayor Adams said after the plan passed. What it won't do is deliver the fiscal belt-tightening Adams once touted, up a couple billion from the last budget adopted under Bill de Blasio a year ago — and as labor contract negotiations for city workers and future budget deficits loom. 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? In New York City and Washington, D.C. WHERE'S ERIC? No public schedule available. ABOVE THE FOLD: 'Never Trumper': Zeldin goes on attack in first GOP debate for New York governor, by POLITICO's Bill Mahoney: After one of the nine occasions in which Rep. Lee Zeldin called businessman Harry Wilson a "Never Trumper" in the first hourlong Republican gubernatorial debate in New York on Monday night, Wilson responded by saying that Zeldin asked him to be his running mate in January. "Why is he dishonestly attacking me now? Because his campaign is disintegrating," Wilson charged. "I never asked and I wouldn't ask Never Trumper Harry Wilson," Zeldin replied. "That is a zero percent chance." "Stop lying," said Wilson. The exchange summed up the tenor of the first debate between the Republicans hoping to reverse their party's two-decade losing streak in statewide races in New York — and their support or lack thereof for former President Donald Trump, the New York native with close ties to many of the candidates, was front and center.
| | | | A message from Instacart: Instacart connects New Yorkers to the local stores they love in their communities. https://newyorkimpact.instacart.com/ | | | |  | What City Hall's reading | | "Punishment? Council members shut out from using additional discretionary funds in NYC budget," by City & State's Annie McDonough and Jeff Coltin: "What's a New York City budget process without a little last minute drama? Mayor Eric Adams and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams shook hands Friday to seal a budget deal that reflected just how 100% completely on the same page the administration and City Council are, and the council is set to vote to officially adopt that rosy budget tonight. But it won't be a unanimous vote in favor, and some of the members who are likely to vote against the budget or who have expressed criticism of it, found an unwelcome surprise in a budget document released Monday afternoon. A budget document outlining the council's discretionary spending shows that seven council members have been left out of something called the 'Speaker's Initiative to Address Citywide Needs,' a broadly named pot of $41.6 million in discretionary funds that Speaker Adrienne Adams can dole out to pet projects of different members or caucuses in the council, like $50,000 for an adult literacy program or $100,000 for a food pantry." " New Rikers Island security boss retired from New York prisons system amid misconduct investigation," by New York Daily News' Graham Rayman: "The highly touted civilian head of security for New York City jails was unceremoniously forced out of his job running a state prison amid an investigation into misuse of funds, abuse of authority and workplace retaliation, the Daily News has learned. As investigators descended on his office in May 2018, Ronald Brereton, the head of Lincoln Correctional Facility on Central Park North, was ordered to surrender his badge and state ID, barred from the facility and escorted out." " Just 5 Months Into His Term, Adams Is Busy Raising Money to Win Another," by The New York Times' Emma G. Fitzsimmons and Dana Rubinstein: "Not long after celebrating his first 100 days as mayor this spring, Eric Adams was poolside in Beverly Hills, Calif., already thinking about the future. Wearing a crisp blue suit and fuchsia tie, Mr. Adams spoke to a crowd of vegan enthusiasts about his allegiance to a plant-based diet in an event at the midcentury home of Naren Shankar, a Hollywood showrunner and producer of 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.' The underlying motivation, however, was about another passion: raising money for his re-election campaign in 2025." Bragg expands special victims division, taps longtime domestic violence prosecutor to lead, by POLITICO's Amanda Eisenberg: Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced on Monday that he's expanding the team that handles sex crimes and other sensitive matters, seeking to deliver on a key campaign promise after his predecessor was frequently criticized for being soft on powerful alleged abusers. Bragg will grow the special victims bureau into a full-fledged division — the first of its kind in the five boroughs — led by former chief of trials Joyce Smith. A HOUSING PLAN, ADAMS' WAY: Mayor Eric Adams is slated to unveil a blueprint on Tuesday laying out how his administration will address the city's severe affordable housing crisis, according to people with knowledge of the plans. In a departure from the previous administration — which centered its own housing plan around a six-figure production target — Adams' plan will not lead with a big unit count goal for creation and preservation, the people said. The administration will also change how it measures the progress of its housing efforts by counting units when they're filled rather than just when they're financed, according to a person briefed on the blueprint. In another departure from his predecessor, the upcoming housing plan will incorporate the beleaguered New York City Housing Authority and track the administration's work toward improving conditions in public housing apartments. The mayor is expected to announce the plan at a former DUMBO hotel that's being converted into affordable and supportive housing. Hotel conversions are expected to be another piece of the blueprint. The housing plan will also look to address procedural issues that slow down the process of getting New Yorkers into city-subsidized housing, the people said. For example, the administration will look at metrics like the time it takes to move someone into a lottery apartment and the vacancy rate in supportive housing, and work to reduce paperwork requirements and other hurdles that make it difficult for people to access housing programs. — Janaki Chadha
| | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | Abortion protections in New York fortified ahead of SCOTUS ruling, by POLITICO's Anna Gronewold: New York is on its way to becoming a national abortion "safe haven" with a series of new laws aimed at shielding abortion patients and providers from out-of-state legal actions, Gov. Kathy Hochul said. Hochul on Monday signed a package of bills that she and state lawmakers rushed to approve in the final days of session this year ahead of a potential U.S. Supreme Court ruling that could overturn Roe v. Wade, making New York among the first in the nation to act ahead of the looming federal decision. New York lawmakers fall short of climate goals as session ends, by POLITICO's Marie J. French: New York lawmakers enacted a few incremental measures during the legislative session to support the state's sweeping climate law passed three years ago, but failed to adopt more aggressive proposals that received major attention through the year. Democratic lawmakers largely acknowledged there's more they need to do on environmental initiatives after the session ended June 4, and some indicated that this year's completion of the climate plan being drawn up by a council of legislative and executive appointees could provide added momentum to tackle emissions reductions from buildings and transportation. "New York COVID cases plummet 19%, number of 'high-risk' counties shrinks to 7," by USA Today Network's David Robinson and Mike Stucka #UpstateAmerica: It's the 30th anniversary of the New York State Blues Festival — now a "historically significant institution" — at the New York State Fairgrounds this weekend.
| | | | A message from Instacart:   | | | | | FROM THE DELEGATION | | Fresh off 'break up' with Dems, Yang backs one in New York, by POLITICO's Sally Goldenberg: Andrew Yang left the Democratic Party last year, following unsuccessful bids to be the nominee for president and New York City mayor, and he's regularly lambasted the party ever since. But that hostility isn't stopping him from getting involved in local party politics. Yang, who ended the mayor's race in fourth place last year after a promising start, is endorsing Suraj Patel in his third attempt at unseating Rep. Carolyn Maloney, a 29-year incumbent on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Speaking in Midtown Manhattan Monday afternoon, the two denounced Maloney and her leading opponent — Rep. Jerry Nadler — as stale and out of touch, given their collective six decades in Congress. Patel, by comparison, is "exactly the kind of next-generation leader that we've been looking for," Yang said during the endorsement Monday afternoon. "Torres to introduce federal bills that would make changes to NY's next redistricting process," by Gothamist's David Cruz: "New York's next redistricting cycle won't happen for another decade, but Rep. Ritchie Torres of the Bronx plans to introduce two bills on Monday that would make the appointment of a special master a 'last resort' in the redistricting process while ensuring any mapmaking software undergoes rigorous scrutiny. Torres, a Democrat, said he was not pleased with the state's disastrous redistricting process this year: A court-appointed special master redrew congressional and state legislative maps after maps drawn by the Democrat-led state Legislature were deemed unconstitutional." "Alessandra Biaggi distances herself from AOC on Israel," by Jewish Insider's Matthew Kassel: "It was an early warning shot in a bitter primary battle that will test the strength of the activist left against a powerful incumbent who has recently drawn progressive wrath. Last week, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) endorsed New York state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi in her newly launched bid to dethrone Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY). … For Biaggi, a political scion who represents portions of the Bronx and Westchester County, the high-profile nod was a progressive stamp of approval that has given her access to a robust grassroots fundraising network as she competes with a well-resourced opponent who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. But it also comes with some baggage, not least among Jewish voters who view Ocasio-Cortez as hostile to Israel and are wondering where Biaggi stands in relation to the congresswoman."
| | AROUND NEW YORK | | — Eric Adams plans to ask Hochul to veto a bill that would place a moratorium on cryptocurrency mining operations. — The MTA will allow its office staff to work remotely at least one day a week starting this summer. — Adams said he's not concerned about large numbers of NYPD cops leaving the force. — Democratic Councilmember James Gennaro in Queens blasted Hochul and state lawmakers for not passing stricter criminal justice policies this year. — LG Antonio Delgado said when it comes to keeping housing affordable by potentially capping rent growth, "all options should be considered." — A bill headed to Hochul's desk would activate an information hotline and referral service during a state disaster emergency. — A state employee arrested on felony cocaine charges at his job last year will resign and potentially face prison time after pleading guilty to a felony gun charge. — Cars have been stuck in a Fordham garage for five months due to an elevator problem. — The Civilian Complaint Review Board has called for two NYPD officers to be disciplined after they allegedly harassed a woman who tried to videotape them. — A coalition of watchdog groups made public Monday its request for an independent, expert-led commission review of the state's Covid-19 response.
| | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Former President Donald Trump … Meta's Campbell Brown … Northwestern Mutual's Christopher Gahan … Chamber of Commerce's Sara Armstrong … CNN's Pete Muntean … Amber Marchand … Danny Gaynor … (was Monday): Marissa Shorenstein … Laurence Graff MAKING MOVES — Former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara is joining the law firm WilmerHale as a partner. … Saira Zaki has joined the comms and issue management firm Levinson Group as a senior managing director. She most recently was global director of communications at the law firm Dechert LLP. WEEKEND WEDDING — Graham Murphy, a property manager at Tishman Speyer, recently married Bridget Foley, global director for fabric design and development at New Balance and an Estée Lauder and Ralph Lauren alum. The couple met at the Rose Bar in the Gramercy Park Hotel in April 2018. Pic ... Another pic SPOTTED: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) having dinner together Monday night at Sfoglina in downtown D.C.
| | | | A message from Instacart: Across New York, Instacart shoppers connect local communities to neighborhood businesses and give customers more time to spend with friends and family. https://newyorkimpact.instacart.com/ | | | | | Real Estate | | Controversial income metric that underpins affordable housing efforts sees big spike, by POLITICO's Janaki Chadha: With New York City in the grips of an acute housing shortage, maximum rents in new income-restricted apartments — and potential competition for the sought-after units — are skyrocketing, all thanks to a statistical anomaly. The city's Area Median Income, a figure set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, rose 16 percent this year from $81,700 to $94,500, following years of smaller, single-digit bumps. AMI indirectly dictates who qualifies for income-restricted housing, as well as the ceiling for rents that landlords can charge there — meaning the rising figure could make it harder for the lowest-income New Yorkers to access subsidized housing, experts told POLITICO. The spike, which comes as Mayor Eric Adams prepares to release a housing plan, could also prompt heightened push-back to affordable housing proposals, according to City Council members. "Bronx Waterfront Neighborhood Welcomes Storm Protections a Decade After Sandy ," by The City's Claudia Irizarry Aponte: "A Bronx waterfront hamlet finally has hope on the horizon for a historic volunteer firehouse after it weathered superstorm Sandy a decade ago. In February, the Governor's Office of Storm Resiliency allocated $2.2 million for upgrades to the Edgewater Park facility, which provides fire protection to a neighborhood not served by the FDNY and also serves as a community social hub for the private, shareholder-owned community." " The B.Q.E. Is Crumbling. There's Still No Plan to Fix It," by The New York Times' Winnie Hu: "The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway is slowly crumbling from the road salt and moisture that has weakened its concrete-and-steel foundation, and from all the overweight trucks that it was never designed to carry. But six years after New York City officials sounded the alarm over the B.Q.E., there is still no consensus about what to do with this vital but outdated highway from the 1940s, which carries 129,000 vehicles a day." | | | | 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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