| | | | |  | | By Erin Durkin, Anna Gronewold and Julian Shen-Berro | In the latest crisis for New York City's troubled public housing system, residents at a Manhattan housing complex are without safe drinking water because their supply may contain arsenic — and officials in Mayor Eric Adams' administration are facing questions about what they knew and when they knew it. The Labor Day weekend saga is the latest woe for residents of the New York City Housing Authority, who for years have dealt with mold, leaks, rodents, and other conditions bad enough to land the agency under federal monitorship. At the Jacob Riis Houses on the Lower East Side, residents were told Friday night not to drink or cook with their tap water after tests revealed traces of arsenic. The City reported that NYCHA officials learned about the contamination two weeks earlier and did not notify residents, though the agency disputes that report. The arsenic tests came in response to complaints of foul-smelling, cloudy and brown water at the complex, which is home to thousands of people. The city has been giving out bottled water to residents, and Adams paid a visit to hand out bottles himself. On Monday, the mayor complained that even he was not immediately notified of the results, telling the Daily News it represents a break with proper procedures. The federal monitor overseeing NYCHA launched an investigation, and ordered the agency Saturday not to destroy documents related to the discovery. For Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, the mess is proof NYCHA's problems go far beyond the billions of dollars in missing funding officials have long lamented. "This is a clear indictment of longstanding and ongoing mismanagement," he said. On Monday, the mayor's office said that more precise testing has come out negative for arsenic in the areas that previously tested positive. But testing continues, and residents are still being told they can't safely drink the water in their homes. 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? Chairing the New York State Financial Control Board's annual meeting and delivering remarks and welcoming commuters to the Long Island Rail Road Concourse at Penn Station. WHERE'S ERIC? Delivering remarks at the Financial Control Board meeting and at the Clearing House and The Bank Policy Institute's annual conference, signing a series of bills on maternal health and holding a roundtable with local Pakistani community leaders. ELECTION DAY COUNTDOWN: 63 DAYS QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I used to like whipped cream. I used to like it a lot. I really did. But now, I don't know." — State Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. to WNYC
| | | | 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 | | It's a global phenomenon — now New York is poised to lead the nation in congestion pricing, by POLITICO's Danielle Muoio Dunn: Some of the world's biggest cities keep turning to a simple tool to cut traffic, reduce emissions and raise much-needed revenue: Tolls. From Stockholm to Singapore, taxing urban drivers is en vogue — and working. Parochial politics have prevented cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles from instituting so-called congestion pricing. Now, those same concerns are vexing its implementation in the core of the nation's biggest city. It does not matter that Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul is fully behind the plan, just as her predecessor was. It does not matter that the state no longer has to worry about Donald Trump, whose administration stalled the approval process. What matters is the bipartisan pushback she's getting at home and across the Hudson River in New Jersey. — New York Republicans are campaigning in opposition to the congestion charges ahead of the November election. — " The most common congestion pricing misconceptions from marathon public hearings," by WNYC's Stephen Nessen "The Final Days of New York's 'Wild West' Outdoor Dining Scene ," by The New York Times' Dodai Stewart: "It was 8:15 p.m. on a steamy Saturday night on the Lower East Side, and every table on Canal Street outside of Clandestino was occupied and buzzing. The roadway tables next door at Le Dive were full as well, and at Cervo's, down the street, and at Dimes, up the block. Laughter, chatter and the sound of clinking dishes hung in the air. But just around the corner on Ludlow Street, tenants in upstairs windows were filming neighborhood scenes and posting them on Twitter, where they described the street as 'trashed' and the patrons as having 'zero regard for the neighborhood' — and blaming a mayor who, one resident wrote, 'prioritizes nightlife over communities.'" "NYC files lawsuit against Starbucks for firing union-organizing barista in Astoria, Queens," by New York Daily News' Chris Sommerfeldt: "Mayor Adams' administration is suing Starbucks over allegations that the coffee corporation unlawfully fired a Queens barista who had been involved in unionization efforts — marking the first time the city has taken legal action under its landmark 'just cause' labor law, the Daily News has learned. The barista, Austin Locke, worked at a recently-unionized Starbucks in Astoria from October 2016 until July 5, when he was terminated after having been out sick for a few days, states a complaint filed Thursday by the city Department of Consumer and Worker Protection."
| | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | "Trump helps Lee Zeldin raise $1.5M in NJ while basking in love from New York GOP," by New York Post's Zach Williams: "Former President Donald Trump gave Rep. Lee Zeldin a $1.5 million boost at a fundraiser for the Republican gubernatorial nominee ahead of the Nov. 8 election against Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. 'There are people you meet in politics who you refer to as friends. They're the people who show up the day after you win. They tell you they were there the whole time. I'm pretty sure they weren't. But then they're our friends,' Zeldin declared at the event, according to a recording obtained by The Post. ... "Trump touted his administration's success on efforts like moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem while praising Zeldin as someone who had leaned on his support going back to his first congressional run in 2014, according to audio obtained by The Post." — A poll released this weekend found Hochul leading Zeldin by just 4 points. "A sticky situation: whipped cream confusion cleared by NY senator," by WNYC's Jon Campbell: "It all started last month, when a bill he sponsored into law last year suddenly found its way into the news. You may have seen the headlines on your social media feeds: 'Why you now need to be 21 to buy canned whipped cream in New York', 'Want to buy canned whipped cream in New York state? Don't forget your ID', 'Really? You need to be 21+ to buy whipped cream?' That was all news to Addabbo, the veteran lawmaker who led the push last year to ban the sale of whipped cream chargers to those under the age of 21 — not the pre-filled cans of whipped cream you find in the grocery store." "New York Is Pushed to Stop Asking Aspiring Lawyers About Long-Ago Crimes," by The New York Times' Troy Closson: "Dylan James, a second-year law student in New York, aspires to fight systemic problems in the legal system. But even if he passes the bar exam after graduation, one part of the state's admission application to become a lawyer could limit his plans: Question No. 26. Mr. James, 30, used a gun to steal from an acquaintance during his senior year in high school and spent about three years in a Florida prison for armed robbery. But Question No. 26 asks prospective lawyers to divulge their complete criminal records, part of an effort to block people from the profession who might harm its reputation and the legal system itself. The provision has attracted criticism from law groups, as well as some judges and professors, for mandating that juvenile cases and sealed or expunged convictions be revealed. Those requirements most likely violate New York laws, experts say. Lawmakers have taken notice, and this year introduced a bill in Albany to rewrite the question. The administrative board of the state's court system, which would oversee any changes to the application, has also been asked to take up the issue — and could do so as soon as this month." VIBE SHIFT: " New York state is undertaking a $9 million project to repair the Capitol courtyard," by Times Union's Raga Justin: "The Capitol Courtyard is getting a facelift. Since June, workers have been buzzing around the courtyard, which functions as the innermost chamber of the lofty New York State Capitol. The project aims to transform the courtyard's 'floor' – which is actually a roof covering the building's critical infrastructure, according to the Office of General Services, which is managing the project. Underneath the roof? Electrical equipment and control panels that keep the Capitol powered, heated and supplied with hot water. The roof will be replaced with a new membrane, as will the roof and wall panels of the Hawk Street Passage. And in a testament to the original architect's vision of the courtyard, the roof will be repaved with new bluestone, according to the Office of General Services." DEEP DIVE: "Why it fell to a corrections officer to deliver a baby inside a Niagara County jail cell," by Buffalo News' Matthew Spina: "Almost two hours passed between the moment the mother first told a jail officer of her abdominal pains and the baby's arrival, according to the internal documents and the inmate. Both say that even as contractions quickened and intensified, a supervising nurse employed by the jail's medical contractor doubted the woman was in labor and did not call an ambulance. As a result, the baby was born in a jail cell, which health experts say is among the worst places for a birth." #UpstateAmerica: A Canandaigua donkey has received a pacemaker.
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | WFP polls general-election rematch as Goldman pulls ahead of Niou in NY-10 count, by POLITICO's Joe Anuta: Former federal prosecutor Dan Goldman has widened his winning margin over Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou in last week's still-tallying Democratic primary in New York's 10th Congressional District. That, however, hasn't stopped the Working Families Party, which backed Niou, from conducting a poll exploring how the Manhattan lawmaker would do if she ran on their ballot line in a general election rematch against Goldman. They're staying mum on the results. " Left out: Max Rose turns down WFP ballot line vs. Nicole Malliotakis," by New York Post's Bernadette Hogan and Carl Campanile : "Thanks, but no thanks. That's what former Brooklyn-Staten Island Congressman Max Rose has told the left-wing Working Families Party about running on its ballot line in his rematch with Rep. Nicole Malliotakis. This time around, the Democrat, who is vying to reclaim his old NY-11 seat from the woman who ousted him two years ago, won't accept help from the lefty political party despite having taken its ballot line in the past. 'It's clear that WFP and I are not aligned on every issue due to my opposition to defunding the police and belief that bipartisanship is still possible and the best way to govern — which is why they endorsed my primary endorsement,' he told The Post."
| | | | 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 | | — Attorneys for Alain Kaloyeros hope the U.S. Supreme Court will strike down a controversial form of wire fraud that he was convicted of back in 2018. — The panel reviewing nominations for the state's JCOPE replacement body rejected three out of 10 nominations. — A National Labor Relations Board official recommended rejecting Amazon's bid to overturn a union election at its Staten Island warehouse. — The wildland fire in Minnewaska State Park Preserve was contained after eight days. — The West Indian American Day Parade returned after a two-year pandemic hiatus. — Maimonides Hospital lost $145 million last year. — Hundreds of people were stung by jellyfish on Long Island over the weekend.
| | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Peter Barnes … Elizabeth Vargas is 6-0 … Bloomberg's Jason Schechter … NYT's Paul Volpe … Meredith McPhillips … CNN's Tala Alrajjal … Fox News' Gillian Turner … Clyde Prestowitz of the Economic Strategy Institute … Jaime Leifer … Will Simmons … Peter Schanzer … Jessica Goldstein … Ari Schaffer … Kendis Gibson … (was Monday): WSJ's Ted Mann … NYT's Clay Risen … CBS' Kris Van Cleave … Fox News' Amy Fenton … John Furneaux … theGrio's April Ryan … CNN's Ann Marlow … Rachel Janfaza … … (was Sunday): NYT's Blake Hounshell … Sam Dagher ... Alex Travelli … Michael McAuliff … Hagar Hajjar Chemali … (was Saturday): Time's Edward Felsenthal … Brian Stelter … Rick Perlstein … CBS' Erica Brown … WSJ's Kristina Peterson … former Rep. Tom Reynolds (R-N.Y.) … Sunshine Sachs' Shawn Sachs … NBC's Adam Reiss MAKING MOVES — Jim Finkle is now a managing director at FGS Global. He most recently was director for corporate communications at Palo Alto Networks and is a Reuters alum. … Luke Hornblower has joined Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C. as an associate on the business law team. WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Laura Nahmias, senior reporter covering New York City and state politics for Bloomberg News and a POLITICO alum, and Matt Mittenthal, VP of comms for BuzzFeed and an alum of the Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton campaigns and former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, last week welcomed Margot Jane Mittenthal. Pic ... Another pic
| | Real Estate | | "Fixing NYC's 50K illegal homes would cost $14B: city," by New York Post's Nolan Hicks: "It would cost the Big Apple nearly $14 billion to bring the estimated 50,000 illegal basement apartments across New York City up to code, The Post has learned. The tallies were included in a draft report City Hall will submit to the federal government for a $188 million aid package following the devastation of Hurricane Ida. The storm hit the Big Apple just over a year ago with torrential rains that flooded underground apartments in Queens and overwhelmed sewers across the five boroughs. At least 13 people died. 'This issue is going to continue to impact the city due to the affordability crisis, there's just no way around it,' said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. 'Climate change is going to end up costing us more than $14 billion. There has to be some city, state and federal intervention here. We're in a housing crisis.'" "In Montauk, Big Money Moves In On a Surfers' Paradise," by the New York Times' Steven Kurutz: "Ditch Plains Beach is the heart of the surf scene in Montauk, a two-mile stretch of dunes and sea at the tip of Long Island's East End with views of sand cliffs to the east and west. It is also where, on summer weekends, a group of longtime Montauk residents and vacationers gather to drink, smoke pot, toss Frisbees and dance till dark, as if staging their own mini Burning Man festival. The patch of beach where they congregate has a nickname among locals: Clown Town. With its surfers and revelers, the scene recalls Montauk as it was more than two decades ago, before private equity executives, social media stars and other moneyed newcomers put their stamp on this formerly rustic beach town of dive bars and tackle shops." "NYC flood map shows where Ida hit hardest — and where urgent action is still needed," by WNYC's Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky: "One year ago, the remnants of Hurricane Ida deposited a record-breaking amount of rain on New York City and the surrounding region. The storm left a trail of destruction in its wake, including 13 city fatalities and $936 million in federal dollars given for personal property damages across New York state and New Jersey. It also left behind some clues." " Coney Island public housing residents sue the city over unresolved Hurricane Sandy-spurred problems," by Gothamist's Michelle Bocanegra: "A few dozen Coney Island public housing residents are suing NYCHA, claiming a host of unresolved, serious issues with their homes — including a line break that has left some families without cooking gas for over a year. The lawsuit filed in Brooklyn housing court earlier this week was brought on behalf of over 50 residents at seven city-run public housing complexes on Coney Island, who say a range of hazardous issues born out of Hurricane Sandy nearly 10 years ago have been left unaddressed." | | | | 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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