| | | | |  | | By Erin Durkin, Anna Gronewold and Julian Shen-Berro | Presented by NextEra Energy | One big takeaway from Tuesday's primary: Don't get caught up in sweeping takeaways from Tuesday's primary. There aren't any half-primaries in August to compare it to, and hopefully there won't be many more in the future. Turnout and voter sentiment are going to look different in November. But New York's bleary-eyed political world noticed some developments as most of the races finalized Wednesday morning, mostly about who's influencing, and who's not. Democratic incumbents did well, aside from Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Mondaire Jones, whose losses are attributed to redistricting woes. In battles for competitive open seats throughout the state, the winners were generally those backed by mainstream Democratic leaders. Take Robert Zimmerman, a longtime public relations executive and Democratic National Committee member, who won the five-way primary for the Long Island seat left open by Rep. Tom Suozzi. Zimmerman had endorsements from Hillary Clinton, state comptroller Tom DiNapoli, New York NAACP President Hazel Dukes and several current members of the delegation. Former Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen won a four-way primary to succeed outgoing Democratic Rep. Kathleen Rice in a neighboring district. She did so with the backing of Rice and top national Democrats, including Reps. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). Navy veteran Francis Conole, who had the widespread backing of Syracuse-area Democrats in the race to succeed Rep. John Katko, also prevailed in a crowded field. Whose influence wasn't so reliable? New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Three of the eight state legislative candidates Adams backed lost their primaries to left-leaning alternatives, our Sally Goldenberg reported. Those races in particular are another setback in Adams' attempts to influence Albany from afar, specifically when it comes to the wall of lawmakers refusing his demands to further tighten the state's bail laws. House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik also seemingly struck out in siding with Republican Carl Paladino in New York's 23rd Congressional District. Wednesday morning, Paladino conceded to GOP Chair Nick Langworthy, a man with whom Stefanik feuded long before his bid to join her congressional conference. Her efforts to support Republican candidate Marc Molinaro against Democrat Pat Ryan in the 19th District special election also fell short. Ryan won Tuesday, giving Democrats across the country fresh hope for their midterm message. IT'S THURSDAY. 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? Appearing on WNYC's Brian Lehrer show and WAMC Northeast Public Radio with Alan Chartock. WHERE'S ERIC? Viewing an Air Force flyover. PROGRAMMING NOTE: New York Playbook won't publish from Monday, Aug. 29 through Monday, Sept. 5. After the hiatus, we'll be back on our normal schedule on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
| | A message from NextEra Energy: NextEra Energy, the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun, and a global leader in battery storage, is committing to the most ambitious carbon-emissions-reduction goal ever set by an energy producer, Real Zero™. Learn more. | | | |  | What City Hall's reading | | "Less than 2% of NYC infants and toddlers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19," by Gothamist's Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky: "Only a tiny fraction of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in New York City have received a full course of COVID-19 vaccines, according to data shared Wednesday by the city's health department. Municipal figures show more than half a million children between 6 months and 4 years of age live in the city. Of those, just more than 8,000 are fully immunized against the viral disease's worst outcomes. That comes out to less than 2%. All told, 6% of children in this age group have gotten at least one dose. Young children have been eligible for the vaccine since June. But less than two months after opening pediatric vaccination sites, the city shut them down, citing low demand and a need to pivot to the growing monkeypox outbreak." Homeless services commissioner's wife once got a $50K raise under his employ, by POLITICO's Janaki Chadha and Sally Goldenberg: The new head of the city's embattled Department of Homeless Services was just a few rungs up the organizational ladder from his wife when she received a promotion and $50,000-plus raise. The arrangement, uncovered through an extensive review of public records, raises conflict-of-interest questions at a time when Social Services Commissioner Gary Jenkins' agency is separately being probed for allegations it covered up legal violations arising from its failure to promptly house immigrant asylum-seekers. The pay bump, which happened two years ago, exceeds any other granted to senior officials in the same agency over a seven-year period, but the agency insists all rules were followed. "Adams-Connected Bishop Allegedly Stiffed Campaign Worker While Accepting 'Not Legal' $150K Contribution," by Hell Gate's Max Rivlin-Nadler: "It's been a very busy few months for Bishop Lamor Whitehead. The Brooklyn-based spiritual leader, who has served prison time for grand larceny and identity fraud, regularly touts his connections to Mayor Eric Adams. Whitehead first made headlines in May when he tried to contact Adams while attempting to negotiate the surrender of a gunman who killed a man on the Q train. Then, in July, Whitehead was robbed during a sermon in Canarsie, where gunmen allegedly took off with 'over a million' in jewelry, all captured on a livestream of the service. Days later, the CITY reported that a parishioner of Whitehead's Canarsie-based ministry was suing him, claiming that he defrauded her out of her life savings. Now, another former parishioner is claiming that Whitehead owes him thousands of dollars related to work done for the flashy bishop during his unsuccessful 2021 run for Brooklyn borough president." FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: A coalition of for-hire vehicle companies and transportation services are pushing Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams for an exemption from congestion pricing, providing a hint of some of the backlash transit leaders will hear at public comment sessions that are scheduled over the next week. Uber, Lyft, Revel and seven other transportation service providers argue the proposed fee amounts to "double taxation" because they already pay surcharges that generate revenue for the MTA's coffers. In a letter, first obtained by POLITICO, the companies also claim the MTA's proposed solutions for potential job loss are "poorly conceived and incredibly insulting." — Danielle Muoio Dunn
| | | | 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 | | "After Spending Big, SuperPACs Failed to Beat New York Progressives for Senate Seats," by City Limits' David Brand: "Better luck next time? A collection of business-backed SuperPACs spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to topple a pair of left-wing Democrats in contentious state Senate races Tuesday. It looks like they wasted their money. Progressive Bronx incumbent Gustavo Rivera appears likely to withstand a primary challenge from more moderate attorney Miguelina Camilo in the redrawn 33rd District, while Democratic Socialists of America-endorsed Kristen Gonzalez defeated ex-Queens Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley in the primary for a new district spanning parts of Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan. Rivera and Gonzalez were each targeted by SuperPACs that stuffed mailboxes with flyers and ran digital ads disparaging them or boosting their opponents." "Top New York Republicans form pro-Zeldin 'super PAC'," by Times Union's Chris Bragg: "Several prominent New York Republicans have formed an independent expenditure committee to boost the candidacy of the GOP nominee for governor, U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin of Long Island, records show. The people spearheading the effort include former U.S. Rep. John Faso of Kinderhook, former state Republican Party chairman Ed Cox, and political consultant and fundraiser Jason Weingartner, the former executive director of the state Republican Party. That's according to a registration form the new group, Save Our State NY, Inc., recently filed with the state Board of Elections." WATCH: Gov. Kathy Hochul reflects on her first year in office with Spectrum's Susan Arbetter " Hochul celebrates Governor's Day at the fair on anniversary of taking office, announces new changes coming next year," by Spectrum's Hayley Foran: "Gov. Kathy Hochul attended the 2022 Great New York State Fair on opening day, Governor's Day, along with several other state lawmakers on what was also the one-year anniversary of her rise to New York's highest office. 'This is what we wait all year for isn't it. The fair is back! I was here last year, it was probably one of my first acts, I was governor a year ago today at that time and, what a difference a year makes,' said Hochul. 'There's nothing like this. Other states can't touch the New York State Fair, so I'm really proud to be governor.'" " N.Y. Medical Marijuana Giants Struggle to Break Into Recreational Market," by The New York Times' Grace Ashford: "When New York State awarded the first of 10 licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana in 2015, the winning bidders rejoiced at the opportunity to control a lucrative, untapped market — but they knew that greater spoils lay ahead. If New York were to legalize recreational cannabis, the medical marijuana companies would be well positioned to dominate the market, much as they have in states like Illinois and Arizona. But New York took a different approach, promising to put those who had been harmed by the war on drugs first in line for retail licenses, with the application process opening Thursday. That approach has left the 10 medical marijuana licensees and those companies with an interest in their business — nearly all of which are large, multistate operators — scrambling." #UpstateAmerica: The head of the Contemporary Circus and Immersive Arts Center wants Troy to be a hub for circus culture.
| | | | A message from NextEra Energy:   | | | | | FROM THE DELEGATION | | How redistricting led to two New York incumbents' downfalls, by POLITICO's Erin Durkin: A late-summer primary hot off the state's redistricting chaos claimed two sitting members of Congress Tuesday — an up-and-coming progressive freshman and a three-decade veteran. Rep. Carolyn Maloney's 30-year career ended in a rout, as Rep. Jerry Nadler trounced her by 30 points in a newly drawn Manhattan district that pitted his base of power against hers. And Rep. Mondaire Jones, who currently represents the suburbs north of New York City, declined to run there — and instead, flopped in a free-for-all Manhattan-and-Brooklyn race. A fractured left doomed progressive House hopefuls in NY-10, by POLITICO's Joe Anuta: Combined, the three candidates backed by various factions of New York City's progressive movement won a majority of votes in Tuesday's primary for an open congressional seat covering lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. Separately, however, each failed to overcome former federal prosecutor Dan Goldman, who doesn't hew as far to the left and clinched the seat with roughly 26 percent of returns. The splintering within the left flank of the city's Democratic party has kicked off a fresh round of questions a year after progressives failed to coalesce around a single mayoral candidate, even as left-leaning candidates fared better on the state level Tuesday night. "New congressman's term will be shortest in New York State in 155 years," by Buffalo News' Jay Tokasz: "Joe Sempolinski will be sworn in as congressman for the 23rd District of New York sometime before the start of the next U.S. House of Representatives session on Sept. 13. Just four months later, he will become former U.S. Rep. Sempolinski. Not since 1867 has a member of Congress from New York State served a shorter term." "Meet the Former C.I.A. Officer Vying to Defeat Elise Stefanik ," by The New York Times' Blake Hounshell: "Matt Castelli has spent much of his career in the shadows. Over nearly 15 years at the Central Intelligence Agency, he hunted down terrorists in one way or another. Half-Sicilian, with a glistening black beard, he has the look of a global Everyman — someone who you might imagine, in the immortal words of Indiana Jones, 'speaks a dozen languages, knows every local custom' and can 'blend in, disappear' in any society. Much of what Castelli did in government service he can't talk about — so it's hard to know exactly what his accomplishments are. Now, after stints with the National Security Council under the Obama and Trump administrations, Castelli is attempting a radical career shift."
| | | | 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. | | | | | | | AROUND NEW YORK | | — GRENELL: "Let's Hear From the Women Lis Smith Smeared" — Federal prosecutors labeled Manhattan's former Yoga to the People a criminal enterprise that raked in cash without reporting it to the IRS. — The man who ran the limo company involved in the 2018 crash in Schoharie that killed 20 people will be sentenced to five years of probation. — Some school districts are attempting to ban cell phones. — The city is spending nearly $27 million to grow its life sciences industry. — The NYPD told a Brooklyn man they would not respond to his illegal parking complaints. — A city administrative law judge ruled that Staten Island Ferry engineers are entitled to a higher wage. — Ogdensburg Mayor Jeffrey Skelly was charged with making false statements to police, apparently with regard to a tire-slashing incident. — Realtor.com named 14618 in Brighton the hottest ZIP code in the country. — Five buses of migrants sent by Texas arrived on Wednesday, the most in a single day. — The NYPD is investigating a possible link between the robberies of two off-duty cops. — SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is facing a $160 million deficit.
| | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Michael Cohen … PwC's Michael O'Brien … Daniel Barash of SKDK … NBC's Monica Alba … John Lin of the Senate Commerce Committee … former Rep. John Faso (R-N.Y.) is 7-0 … Sam Michelman … Jane Wasserman MAKING MOVES — Jon Banner is joining McDonald's as EVP and global chief impact officer. He most recently has been EVP for PepsiCo global communications and president of the PepsiCo Foundation and is an ABC News/Disney alum.
| | A message from NextEra Energy: NextEra Energy, an industry leader in low-cost renewable energy, announced its Real Zero™ goal to eliminate carbon emissions from its operations while enhancing reliability, resiliency, affordability and cost certainty for the many customer groups it serves. Learn more. | | | | | Real Estate | | "Adams signs bipartisan bill granting property tax rebate to low, middle income homeowners," by PoliticsNY's Ethan Stark-Miller: "Hundreds of thousands of low and middle income New York City homeowners could soon get an up to $150 one-time property tax rebate, thanks to a bill Mayor Eric Adams signed into law Wednesday morning. At the City Hall bill signing Wednesday morning, Adams said the rebate is a way to provide much needed relief to struggling low and middle income homeowners impacted by the coronavirus pandemic." " Challenge to Blood Center development was in vain," by Real Deal's Kathryn Brenzel: "A judge agreed with neighbors of the New York Blood Center that its massive redevelopment will be 'annoying' for them. But, she said, the project can move forward. Judge Arlene Bluth dismissed their lawsuit seeking to void the rezoning of the nonprofit's headquarters, 310 East 67th Street, that paved the way for a 16-story building to rise there." | | | | 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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