| | | | |  | | By Erin Durkin, Anna Gronewold and Georgia Rosenberg | Presented by Equinor | Your state lawmakers were scheduled to begin Gov. Kathy Hochul's extraordinary session in Albany around noon yesterday. But, true to form, they did not, and ultimately decided to just try the whole thing over again today. They and their staffs spent Thursday in back and forths with Hochul about the details of the shared goal: Putting new laws in place to limit who can carry a gun in public, though not quite so tightly as before since the Supreme Court struck down its old law last week. The language for that bill did not emerge from Hochul's office until roughly 3 a.m. this morning. That was about the time Hochul announced that she was also expanding the purpose of the extra session to include another of her priorities: adding the right to abortion access to the state constitution. Talks about including reproductive rights in the constitution's existing equal protection clause stalled in the final days of the official session last month. But following the SCOTUS decision to strike down Roe v. Wade, lawmakers and Hochul were yesterday again discussing how to add new language to the constitution that would explicitly protect the right to abortion and contraceptive methods, according to people familiar with the negotiations. That now seems to be more or less locked down, according to an early-morning statement from Hochul. "I thank Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Heastie for working through the day and night on these bold actions in response to these reckless Supreme Court decisions," she said. "We will enact legislation to strengthen our laws on concealed carry weapons, and building on our nation-leading protections for abortion patients and providers, New York State will take an unprecedented step toward enshrining the fundamental right to abortion access into our State Constitution." The final, smaller complication to the late-night talking in Albany was a bill extending mayoral control for New York City schools, which needed to be signed before midnight before the policy officially lapsed. That one did get wrapped up in the nick of time. Hochul signed the two-year extension, but said in the accompanying memo that she and the Legislature agreed to delay the expansion of the Panel on Education Policy from 15 to 23 members until 2023. Let's try this again: The Senate, at least, is scheduled for session at 9 a.m. today. 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? No public schedule by press time. WHERE'S ERIC? Speaking at the NYPD academy graduation, visiting a Planned Parenthood clinic, and appearing on AM 970 radio. PROGRAMMING NOTE: New York Playbook will not publish on Monday for the Fourth of July. We'll be back in your inboxes on Tuesday, July 5.
| | | | A message from Equinor: Can a wind turbine generate more than electricity? We believe it can. At Equinor, we're working to power about 2,000,000 New York homes with homegrown, renewable energy while boosting the economy, generating jobs, and launching tomorrow's clean energy infrastructure. Equinor is a broad energy company, committed to become net-zero by 2050. We're advancing the Empire Wind and Beacon Wind offshore wind projects and quickly becoming a leader in this growing industry. | | | |  | What City Hall's reading | | "New York City will offer Paxlovid at mobile testing sites, a first in the U.S.," by The New York Times' Emma G. Fitzsimmons: "New York City is creating the first mobile testing units in the United States that will allow people who test positive for the coronavirus to immediately receive for free the antiviral treatment Paxlovid. Mayor Eric Adams announced the new program on Thursday in Manhattan with Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House Covid-19 response coordinator. The new 'Test to Treat' mobile unit program is part of federal and city efforts to reduce the impact of the virus and to prepare for future waves of cases. Health officials want to improve access to antiviral drugs for vulnerable New Yorkers who may not know about the treatment or do not have a primary care doctor or health insurance." — "New York City's COVID test positivity rate surpasses 10% for the first time since January," by ABC News' Mary Kekatos: "New York City's COVID-19 test positivity rate is skyrocketing, indicating that a sixth wave of the virus could be around the corner. As of June 26 -- the latest date for which data is available -- the test positivity rate hit 10.05%, according to the city's Department of Health & Mental Hygiene. It marks the first time the rate has surpassed 10% since Jan. 22, when the omicron wave was still hammering the Big Apple." " Justice Department Will Investigate N.Y.P.D.'s Handling of Sex Crimes," by The New York Times' Troy Closson: "Federal prosecutors in New York and Washington have opened a civil rights investigation into the New York Police Department's special victims division and its handling of sex-abuse cases, officials said on Thursday. Investigators will examine allegations that include 'failing to conduct basic investigative steps and instead shaming and abusing survivors and re-traumatizing them during investigations,' according to a Justice Department news release." — An NYPD officer stood trial this week for his alleged role in a chaotic scene at a Black Lives Matter protest that resulted in two Black elected officials getting pepper sprayed. "Rikers Switching Up Solitary With 'Risk Management' System ," by The City's Reuven Blau: "The city's embattled Department of Correction on Friday plans to gradually implement a new system to limit the use of solitary confinement — more than three years after Layleen Polanco's death galvanized a movement to ban the punishment, internal documents reveal. The highly anticipated changes — which will give detainees a minimum of 10 hours outside their cell each day — are set to start inside the all-male George R. Vierno Center on Rikers Island on July 1, according to a memo sent to city jail medical staff obtained by THE CITY. Late Thursday, however, the federal monitor overseeing the department strongly urged the city to postpone the plan, saying it 'poses significant safety concerns.'" "City Council proposes free abortion pills at NYC clinics in wake of Roe reversal," by New York Daily News' Chris Sommerfeldt: "Legislation rolled out by a group of Democratic City Council members Thursday would make abortion pills available for free at dozens of health clinics across the five boroughs — an effort aimed directly at counteracting the Supreme Court's recent reversal of the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling on reproductive rights. The bill, which is part of a package of Council legislation seeking to expand abortion access in the city, would require all Department of Health clinics, stations and centers to provide free access to mifepristone and misoprostol. The two medications are commonly taken together and can terminate a pregnancy that is less than 10 weeks along. Manhattan Councilmember Carlina Rivera, a sponsor of the bill, said proof of health insurance or immigration status will not be required to get the pills. People who don't live in New York will also be able to receive them free of charge at DOH facilities, and Rivera said the Council is even exploring the possibility of allowing the city to mail the pills to residents in other states." " Bill de Blasio Got — and Ignored — Warning to Pay for NYPD Travel During His Presidential Campaign," by The City's Greg B. Smith and Yoav Gonen: "Last fall the city Department of Investigation released a damning report declaring that then-Mayor Bill de Blasio needed to reimburse the taxpayers $320,000 for the cost of bringing his NYPD detail along during his quixotic and ultimately failed quest for the White House. At the time, the mayor questioned DOI's findings, claimed there were 'inaccuracies' in the report, and insisted he was simply following the advice of the NYPD. He also maintained he had 'never received any contradictory guidance' on the use of the detail. But a day before he announced his bid for the White House, he did receive explicit advice from the Conflicts of Interest Board (COIB) informing him in no uncertain terms that he must pay back the city for the use of the detail on the campaign trail." City launches new gun-crime DNA unit, by POLITICO's Erin Durkin and Georgia Rosenberg: A new unit at the city medical examiner's office will aim to halve the time it takes to analyze DNA in gun crimes, Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday. The $2.5 million lab will employ 24 forensic scientists devoted exclusively to shootings and other gun crimes, the mayor said.
| | | | 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 ALBANY'S READING | | Hochul administration moves to shut gas-powered cryptocurrency plant, by POLITICO's Marie J. French: Gov. Kathy Hochul's administration on Thursday denied a key permit for a gas powered cryptocurrency mining operation in the Finger Lakes, saying the facility spews too much planet-warming pollution to be allowed under the state's climate law. The decision by the state Department of Environmental Conservation on the Greenidge gas plant is the latest step in New York to curb the pollution from cryptocurrency mining facilities that have started to proliferate across upstate New York for the growing industry. ... Hochul faced political pressure to deny the permit, but delayed it until after Tuesday's gubernatorial primary that she convincingly won. SCOTUS SOUNDS OFF: "U.S. Supreme Court to take up case of ex-Cuomo aide Joseph Percoco," by WNYC's Jon Campbell: "The U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether private citizens can be convicted of 'honest services' bribery charges at the request of Joseph Percoco, who spent years as former Gov. Andrew Cuomo's right-hand man. The court signaled Thursday that it has accepted Percoco's request to review part of his case, in which he was convicted of three bribery-related felonies that focused in part on $35,000 he accepted from a Syracuse-area developer when he was working for Cuomo's campaign – not on his government staff. Percoco, who was convicted in 2018, was sentenced to six-years in federal prison, but was released to a halfway house in December." "Supreme Court refuses to hear challenge to health care vaccine mandate," by Buffalo News' Jerry Zremski: "In refusing to hear the case, the Supreme Court tacitly agreed with State Attorney General Letitia James and other lawyers for the state, who argued in a brief filed with the court that there's no legal precedent mandating a religious exemption to the vaccine mandate, even though the state did establish an exemption for medical personnel who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons." #UpstateAmerica: Thieves posing as golfers are terrorizing Capital Region country clubs.
| | | | A message from Equinor: The energy transition is the defining challenge opportunity of our time. Our world needs energy to keep moving forward — but it must be affordable, reliable, and accessible. We all have a role to play. At Equinor, we're doing our part by helping accelerate the energy transition . We're growing our renewable energy portfolio and lowering emissions from production. We're already on the way to powering about 2,000,000 New York homes with energy from the Empire Wind and Beacon Wind offshore wind projects. We're creating jobs, building tomorrow's infrastructure, and sparking new economic activity. But for us, that's only the beginning. By the time the global population reaches 9 billion in 2050, our goal is to have net-zero emissions. Discover more about Equinor at www.equinor.com/USA. | | | | | FEELIN' 22 | | "Fresh from GOP primary win, Zeldin predicts victory in Hochul's home county," by Buffalo News' Robert J. McCarthy: "Fresh from his overwhelming victory in Tuesday's Republican primary for governor, Lee Zeldin ventured into his opponent's home turf Thursday and didn't hesitate for a second to make a bold prediction. 'Kathy Hochul will lose Erie County on Nov. 8, 2022,' he said of the incumbent Democratic governor during a Buffalo news conference. 'I have found a whole lot of New Yorkers who know Kathy Hochul best, who are actually more upset with her than other New Yorkers who are just getting bad first impressions. 'And they're loyal Democrat voters,' he added of party members he met in her hometown of Hamburg. 'She will end up losing that area – maybe she breaks 30%.'" — FiveThirtyEight forecasts Hochul as very likely to win her reelection.
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | "VA hospitals in NYC and Hudson Valley to remain open after Senate leaders scrap Trump-era commission," by New York Daily News' Tim Balk: "Two Veterans Affairs hospitals in New York City that were left on life support under a proposal to a downsizing commission are now set to stay open after Senate leaders said they intend to scrap the commission. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who had fought for the future of the medical centers in Manhattan and Brooklyn, celebrated the expected demise of the so-called AIR Commission." FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — A new poll commissioned by the campaign of Democrat Pat Ryan finds him trailing Republican Marc Molinaro in the special election for the congressional seat vacated by Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado. Molinaro leads 43 percent to 40 percent in the poll by Public Policy Polling. After the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, the poll finds that 53 percent of voters in the district prefer a Democratic candidate who wants to protect abortion rights to 33 percent who prefer a Republican candidate who opposes abortion rights. Molinaro has said he considers legal abortion settled law in New York but is personally against abortion and opposes late term abortion, while Ryan has made supporting abortion rights a central part of his campaign. In the poll, voters who are told Molinaro opposed the 2019 law that codified Roe in New York support Ryan by a 9-point margin. — Erin Durkin
| | TRUMP'S NEW YORK | | "Tish James' Summer of Trump: Depositions loom, fresh appraisal docs pile up in NY probe's 11th hour," by Insider's Laura Italiano: "It's the Summer of Trump for Letitia James and her band of Trump Organization investigators. With statute of limitations deadlines looming, New York's attorney general has signaled that her office is wrapping up its massive, three-year inquiry into an alleged pattern of financial fraud at Donald Trump's multi-billion-dollar hotel and golf resort empire."
| | AROUND NEW YORK | | — The city's cleanup corps program is ending, nixing cleanups like one that transformed a once-filthy area in Harlem. — The city is scrambling to hire more lifeguards and considering measures including calling up candidates who narrowly failed the test. — The federal government will send New York more than 8,000 doses of the monkeypox vaccine. — Hochul signed a bill aimed at cracking down on hidden charges for tickets to concerts and sporting events. — Brooklyn funeral homes say their operations are being disrupted by illegal parking that cops refuse to enforce. — Wegmans has agreed to pay the state $400,000 for leaving customers' personal data exposed. — Coney Island's Luna Park is introducing three new attractions. — NYC's speed and red light cameras will operate 24/7 starting Aug. 1.
| | | | INTRODUCING POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don't miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. | | | | | | | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY: NBC's Kristen Welker … Brett Zongker of the Library of Congress … Mike Czin of SKDK … Martin Indyk … Pierson Fowler MAKING MOVES — Blondel Pinnock starts today as CEO of community development corporation Bed-Stuy Restoration. She most recently was COO of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation. … Kayla Mamelak Altus is joining the mayor's office as a deputy press secretary. She has been a reporter at Fox 5 … James Roscoe has been named deputy ambassador of the British Embassy in Washington. He currently serves as the U.K.'s ambassador to the General Assembly of the United Nations. ENGAGED — Aaron Strand, AVP associate banker at Citi Private Bank, recently proposed to Emily Sweet, a partner manager at Doordash. The couple met in college and he proposed in the backyard of the home they just moved into. Pic ... Another pic WEEKEND WEDDING — Newsha Ghaeli, president and cofounder of Biobot Analytics, on Saturday married Dylan Enright, COO of The Org and an Andrew Yang alum. The couple, who met in San Francisco while she was at YC (with Biobot), married at 12th century monastery Pousada de Amares in Amares, Portugal. Pic ... Another pic
| | Real Estate | | "Here's how much housing 421-a has actually supported," by Crain's New York's Natalie Sachmechi: "Housing advocates slammed the program as a massive giveaway to developers that didn't build nearly enough below-market-rate units, while the real estate industry suggested it wouldn't have enough incentive to build the subsidized units without a program like 421-a. An analysis of city data by the Independent Budget Office revealed just how much housing, affordable and not, was produced under the 421-a tax exemption program, and the numbers show the program came up short in creating units that were affordable enough for the households most in need. … The report also found that affordable units built at all price points included additional subsidies from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, meaning they were not supported solely through 421-a." "Judge strikes down Albany's 'good-cause' eviction law," by Times Union's Steve Hughes: "The city's 'good-cause' eviction law, the first of its kind in the state, was struck down Thursday in a decision that may lead to the overturning of similar pieces of legislation across New York. State Supreme Court Judge Christina Ryba ruled in favor of several landlords who argued the law violated state law that guided tenant-landlord relationships. Ryba's decision knocked down one of Mayor Kathy Sheehan's signature pieces of legislation, part of a larger package of housing-related laws that was heralded by housing advocates across the state as a model for other cities to follow." | | | | 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 | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment