| | | | |  | | By Anna Gronewold and Erin Durkin | The state officially has a plan to prove New York will do more than just trash talk in its fight against climate change. The Climate Action Council, dominated by executive administration officials, on Monday OK'd a final roadmap to cut emissions to 50 percent of 1990 levels by 2030 and 85 percent by 2050. It's been more than two-and-a-half years in the making, and as our Marie J. French tells us, it's more than simply another document of tentative suggestions. Its teeth come from authority given to the state's Department of Environmental Conservation to actually implement regulations. It lays out a "cap and invest" program similar to one in California that would limit emissions and require polluters to purchase allowances for spewing greenhouse gases. It includes:
- banning fossil fuel use for new construction and major renovations;
- eventually prohibiting replacement gas or other fossil fuel furnaces in homes, apartment buildings and businesses;
- a push for a big buildout of on-shore solar and wind, and offshore wind and battery storage.
The vote was 19 to 3 and dissenters cited continued concerns about cost, reliability and unknowns, particularly when it comes to achieving a 2040 "zero emissions" electricity goal. Other questions remain: We don't know, for example, how much the transition will cost a typical household. Now Hochul and state lawmakers need to take concrete actions for a slew of measures to become reality. Hochul has championed the climate goals since she took office, but she is now entering her first full term and will come up against political risks of embracing higher energy costs and opposing the fossil fuel industry. The Legislature's Democratic majorities, like many Americans, have said they're all-in when it comes to pro-environmental initiatives. They have historically been less immediately enthusiastic with their votes and the state's wallet. 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 Albany with no announced public schedule. WHERE'S ERIC? Participating in a panel on dyslexia, making a health announcement, and hosting a Hanukkah celebration. ABOVE THE FOLD: " New York lawmakers introduce pay raise bill, could be voted on this week," by Spectrum's Nick Reisman: "Pay for state lawmakers could reach $142,000 next year under a proposal introduced late Monday night -- making New York the highest paid state Legislature in the country. The measure, introduced in time for the Democratic-led state Senate and Assembly to be voted on by Thursday, would also limit the ability of lawmakers to earn outside income with some exceptions."
| | | | POLITICO AT CES 2023 : We are bringing a special edition of our Digital Future Daily newsletter to Las Vegas to cover CES 2023. The newsletter will take you inside the largest and most influential technology event on the planet, featuring every major and emerging industry in the technology ecosystem gathered in one place. The newsletter runs from Jan. 5-7 and will focus on the public policy related aspects of the event. Sign up today to receive exclusive coverage of CES 2023. | | | | | |  | WHAT CITY HALL IS READING | | Adams considers reopening Randall's Island tent city for migrants with the end of Title 42, by POLITICO's Erin Durkin and Danielle Muoio Dunn: Mayor Eric Adams may reopen a tent city for migrants on Randall's Island if a new influx of immigrants begins arriving with the lifting of Title 42, he said Monday. The controversial emergency shelter site closed last month because fewer migrants were coming to New York, but the city is now expecting 1,000 new asylum seekers a week after Title 42 winds down Wednesday. — Chief Justice John Roberts placed a temporary hold on a lower court ruling ending Title 42, a Trump-era policy that blocked many asylum seekers from entering the country on health grounds due to the coronavirus pandemic. — A second migrant died by suicide at a city shelter. — National Guard troops are now meeting asylum seekers at the Port Authority. "MTA to cut NYC subway service on Mondays and Fridays, boost some weekend trains," by WNYC's Gwynne Hogan and Clayton Guse: "MTA officials plan to cut subway service on Mondays and Fridays starting in June — and bulk up weekend service on a few lines. The shift, announced during an MTA meeting on Monday, marks the most significant adjustment to subway schedules since ridership began to rebound from the pandemic, which decimated mass transit usage in and around New York." "Feds Arrest Mayor Adams' Pastor Pal for Alleged Fraud," by The City's George Joseph and Yoav Gonen: "Federal authorities on Monday arrested Brooklyn Bishop Lamor Whitehead, charging him with allegedly fleecing a 56-year-old parishioner of her entire life savings, extorting a businessman, and lying to federal agents." "City launches two-year study to reimagine the Cross Bronx Expressway," by Crain's Caroline Spivack: "New York will study ways to reimagine the infamously congested Cross Bronx Expressway, including the feasibility of decking over stretches of the highway with open space, Mayor Eric Adams announced Monday. A $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation is funding the two-year study." "Over Half of NYC's Food Stamp Applicants Left Waiting as Staffing Shortage Deepens," by City Limits' David Brand and Mariam Hydara: "More than half all New York food stamps applicants are left waiting for their benefits to arrive, as critical administrative bottlenecks at the city's social services agency worsen amid staff shortages and impending budget cuts, officials said Thursday."
| | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: It's more than $220 billion annually, asks for some of the highest taxes in the country, and handles health care, education and social support for millions of people. But the Citizens Budget Commission says the state budget process has at least four major problems, and in a new report this morning — Accounting (and More) for a Better Budget — offers strategies to address those, as well as 12 specific recommendations to achieve them. Gov. Kathy Hochul's first year and the lessons learned during the pandemic make now the opportune time for an overhaul, the report's authors say: "While some of these recommendations may be controversial or require significant changes to management and budgeting systems, others can and should be implemented immediately." — Anna "New York Senate Democrats retain supermajority after recount," by Spectrum's Nick Reisman "NY advocates, lawmakers renew push for 'good cause' eviction and other tenant-friendly bills as Hochul, Adams prioritize housing," by New York Daily News' Denis Slattery COUNT 'EM IN: The new state lawmakers in the 2023 legislative session," by City & State's Shantel Destra ANALYSIS: "New York lost more high-earning taxpayers in pandemic-wracked 2020," by Empire Center's E.J. McMahon: "In the first federal income-tax year affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, New York State's share of the nation's highest-earning filers dropped sharply, relative to the national total. According to just-released Internal Revenue Service (IRS) data, the number of New York tax filers with adjusted gross income above $1 million decreased to 54,370 in 2020, from 55,100 in 2019. That 1.3 percent decline came even as the number of millionaire filers nationally was growing by nearly 10 percent, from 554,340 to 608,540." #UpstateAmerica: Sen. Chuck Schumer completed his 24th tour of all 62 counties.
| | | | A NEW POLITICO PODCAST: POLITICO Tech is an authoritative insider briefing on the politics and policy of technology. From crypto and the metaverse to cybersecurity and AI, we explore the who, what and how of policy shaping future industries. We're kicking off with a series exploring darknet marketplaces, the virtual platforms that enable actors from all corners of the online world to traffic illicit goods. As malware and cybercrime attacks become increasingly frequent, regulators and law enforcement agencies work different angles to shut these platforms down, but new, often more unassailable marketplaces pop up. SUBSCRIBE AND START LISTENING TODAY. | | | | | | | FROM THE DELEGATION | | SEARCHING FOR A SANTOS CLAUSE via our Playbook friends in Washington — Democrats are scouring the record of Rep.-elect GEORGE SANTOS to determine their next steps following an extraordinary New York Times investigation of the incoming Republican from Long Island that revealed a history of seemingly fraudulent claims. Democrats are pondering how far to go in their condemnation. Should he be referred to the House Ethics Committee? (Almost certainly.) Should they call for his resignation before he is sworn in? (Some say yes.) Should they call for his expulsion after he's sworn in? (Probably, but with the GOP in charge it won't work.) Or should they try to prevent him from being sworn in at all? Among those looking to prevent Santos from being seated is embattled New York state Democratic chair JAY JACOBS, the NYT reports in a follow-up story, "pending an investigation" into his personal claims and questionable financial filings. One key Democrat, however, tells Playbook that contesting the election should be off the table: Santos' former opponent. "I will not play any role in overturning the election results," said ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, who lost to Santos by 8 points in November. "It was egregious when it happened two years ago, and I will not play any role in that. These are all good questions, but they are best investigated by the Ethics Committee, the FEC and U.S. attorney's office." Now, if the dispute over seating Santos concerned the counting of votes, Zimmerman's opinion would be final. But the rules of the House also allow fellow members-elect to object on the first day of the new Congress to prevent a potential colleague from taking the oath. (For procedure nerds, here's the fine print.) We're told it's possible that a rogue Democrat could lodge such an objection. But party leaders are not keen on the idea, a leadership official said: With no Republican yet questioning Santos' fitness to serve, any attempt to disqualify him would almost certainly fail, the thinking goes, and the threat would serve to unify Republicans on a day when the party will be torn over House GOP Leader KEVIN McCARTHY's bid for speaker.
| | AROUND NEW YORK | | — A lawsuit seeks to hold the city in contempt for failing to follow court orders to provide detainees at Rikers Island with proper medical care. — The MTA pushed back the opening of East Side Access until at least late January. — Adams has not followed through on a campaign promise to make public a list of NYPD officers the city is watching for violent or inappropriate behavior. — Hundreds of Uber drivers protested the company's lawsuit that successfully delayed a rate and wage hike. — The union for Broadway actors and stagehands ratified a new contract. — A former NYU administrator was charged with orchestrating a $3.5 million fraud scheme. — 82 days and counting: The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York has not turned over key documents related to its oversight of a $200 million cannabis fund.
| | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY: HuffPost's Jen Bendery … Murray Waas … AP's Mary Clare Jalonick … Lauren Milnes of Rep. Hakeem Jeffries' (D-N.Y.) office … Will Benedict … Cameron Willis … Jordan Emont MAKING MOVES — The head of BerlinRosen's Campaigns team, Alex Navarro-McKay , is stepping down from his role after 14 years. He plans to take on consulting projects and teach at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. Isaac Goldberg, who has been with the firm for six years, will take over as head of the team. (via Joe Anuta) SPOTTED: Andrew Cuomo with former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway at Il Postino on the Upper East Side.
| | Real Estate | | "Truck Depot On Harlem's One45 Site Almost Ready, Developer Says," by Patch's Nick Garber: "A large truck depot will open within days on the site of the defeated One45 development in Harlem, the developer said Monday, laying blame for the deeply unpopular depot at the feet of the local lawmaker who helped bring down the 900-apartment rezoning." "Family Loosens Grip on New York Irish Group and Its Gilded Age Mansion," by The New York Times' Dan Barry: "The board of directors for the troubled American Irish Historical Society has resigned and an interim board has taken over, under a plan by the New York Attorney General's office to preserve the nonprofit organization and save the Gilded Age townhouse on Fifth Avenue that has been its headquarters for more than 80 years. The announcement on Monday signaled the end to one Irish-American family's half-century control of the society, which ultimately led to managerial dysfunction and charges that the patriarch, Dr. Kevin M. Cahill, had turned it into his private club." | | | | 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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