| | | | |  | | By Erin Durkin and Anna Gronewold | Universal pre-K is the one thing just about everyone agrees Bill de Blasio did right. But there's a problem: Nearly 30 percent of the city's free pre-K and 3K seats are unfilled. De Blasio's signature initiative started with pre-kindergarten classes for all 4-year-olds and then began an expansion to 3-year-olds. It's now under threat from Mayor Eric Adams, who is rolling back plans to take 3K citywide. Behind the political controversy, there's the fact that many New York families are not taking advantage of the free early education classes — and the neediest kids are the most likely to miss out, our Madina Touré reports. New York's 3K program has 38,281 students enrolled in a total 54,713 seats while the pre-K program has 54,730 children in 77,066 seats. The 10 neighborhoods with the most open seats include high-poverty areas like Highbridge and Morrisania in the Bronx. Meanwhile, in wealthier neighborhoods like the Upper East Side and Soho, parents are often scrambling to find a seat at schools with long wait lists. Why would low-income families be less likely to sign up? A big part of it has to do with the pandemic. Their neighborhoods were the hardest hit by Covid-19 infections and deaths. Black families have consistently expressed more wariness about the safety of in-person education during the pandemic. Pre-K age kids weren't eligible for the vaccine until this summer, and protections like masks and regular testing in schools have been stripped away. Additionally, experts say the application process can be tricky to navigate and there's been a mismatch between where seats were created and where the biggest demand is. De Blasio vowed to make 3K universal, but Adams is canceling a planned 6,000-seat increase in the program that's slated for 2023. He's also yanking $568 million in federal stimulus funds that had been earmarked for 3K. Or he wants to, anyway. But the move is opposed by members of the City Council, and the Council has to vote next month on the mayor's proposed changes to the city budget. The 3K cuts are just one of many things in the plan they're mad about (more on that below), setting up a fight in the new year. IT'S FRIDAY and the final Playbook of 2022. Thanks for reading, writing back, and telling your friends about where you get your daily dose of New York politics. Happy holidays from the POLITICO New York team and stay warm out there. Here's a video of a sports guy who is not thrilled he got roped into covering a snowstorm. What do you want to see in Playbook next year? Let us know or just send a good holiday recipe. By email: EDurkin@politico.com and agronewold@politico.com, or on Twitter: @erinmdurkin and @annagronewold PROGRAMMING NOTE: New York Playbook will not publish again until Tuesday, Jan. 3. WHERE'S KATHY? In Albany with no public events scheduled. WHERE'S ERIC? No public events scheduled. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "People know I'm a texter. He can text me, but I think it's a cheap shot that I'm not paying attention. I pay attention to every part of the state, particularly my home city. But if you don't ask, I don't know what you want. I'm not a mind reader." — Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie in Albany yesterday in response to Eric Adams' complaints to Playbook that legislative leaders aren't helping him out
| | | | 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 | | City Council in revolt over Adams' budget cuts, by POLITICO's Erin Durkin: City Council members are up in arms after Mayor Eric Adams threatened to slash the funding they give to nonprofits, his latest attempt to cut spending as the city grapples with an influx of asylum seekers. The threat to discretionary funding added to already growing anger over Adams' plans for a new round of deep budget cuts and has united Council members against the mayor like little else in the year-long tenure of Speaker Adrienne Adams. "MTA Bosses Say Albany Can Pay to Keep Full Service Five Days Per Week," by Streetsblog's Dave Colon: "MTA bigwigs said on Wednesday that if Albany funded the transit agency appropriately, they could undo some planned service cuts. 'All good things can happen if people are willing to pay for them, or help figure out recurring funding sources, which is what MTA needs to achieve fiscal stability,' MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber said when asked if a state cash infusion could forestall schedule changes that the agency announced on Monday." "Widow of asylum seeker who took his own life begs NYC shelters to take mental health more seriously," by CBS 2's Dave Carlin "The Bronx DA's Office Is Interrogating Its Own Prosecutors About Staff Complaints," by The City's George Joseph: "The Bronx District Attorney's Office is dragging low-level prosecutors into a room with its own detective investigators and NYPD officers to interrogate them about complaints some staff have made, multiple current and former prosecutors told THE CITY. The interviews come after a group of prosecutors inside the office threatened District Attorney Darcel Clark in an anonymous email with a walkout if she did not address their complaints about fair pay during the holidays, compensatory time off, and other labor issues."
| | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | "New York state lawmakers approve $32K pay raise to become highest paid in nation," by USA Today Network's David Robinson: "The plan, if signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, would raise the annual salary for state lawmakers to $142,000 from the current $110,000, which has been their salary since 2019. Before that, they made $79,500 annually for the prior 20 years. Democratic legislators in Albany rammed the pay raise through during a special legislative session, despite opposition from some fellow Democrats and Republicans in the Assembly and Senate who described the 29% salary hike as misguided amid national economic struggles harming many New Yorkers." — There are legislative staffers whose total income is less than the $32,000 pay raise lawmakers gave themselves. "Hector LaSalle, former Suffolk prosecutor, nominated for New York chief judge," by Newsday's Yancey Roy: "Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday nominated a new state chief judge: Hector LaSalle, of East Northport, who could make history as New York's first Latino chief judge but whose selection will face opposition by progressives. If confirmed next month by the State Senate, LaSalle, 54, would succeed Janet DiFiore, a Cuomo-era appointee who steered the state's top court, the Court of Appeals, to the right." — SO FAR, NOT SO GOOD: A big handful of progressive Democratic senators — Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar, Sen.-elect Kristen Gonzalez, Robert Jackson, Jabari Brisport, Samra Brouk and Michelle Hinchey have already said they cannot support LaSalle. Others like Jessica Ramos have expressed concern. Communications Workers of America District 1 Vice President Dennis Trainor said in a statement that his union, "along with many of our union allies," condemns the appointment and pointed to a decision LaSalle joined specifically concerning CWA leaders that he said serves to "hamper and silence organizing efforts." The progressive coalition called "The Court New York Deserves," which includes more than 100 groups such as the criminal justice reform group the Center for Community Alternatives, the Working Families Party, immigrant rights organization Make the Road New York, has labeled LaSalle an "unacceptable" choice. — Hochul's office put out a statement later Thursday with statements from top legislators, elected officials and legal groups praising the choice. 'This Is Reparations': Can New York Actually Make Legal Weed Work for People of Color? by Hell Gate's Wes Parnell: "Fagon's job as [Office of Cannabis Management's] Chief Equity Officer revolves around two goals: creating an equitable marketplace for people who were previously incarcerated over marijuana convictions, of whom the vast majority are Black and brown New Yorkers, and making sure the bulk of licenses go to small- and medium-sized businesses, not big corporations. But the odds are stacked against him—there's a reason that most social equity initiatives in the U.S. related to cannabis have failed." #UpstateAmerica: Two developers are planning a $100 million overhaul of the Capital Region's massive eyesore and Albany's Central Warehouse is just as dystopian inside as out!
| | | | 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 | | "To Brooklyn and back again – Mondaire Jones is moving to the 17th Congressional District," by City & State's Jeff Coltin: "Capping off a year of district shopping, outgoing Rep. Mondaire Jones is planning yet another move — to Sleepy Hollow. Which happens to be in the 17th Congressional District, and is weeks away from being represented by Republican Rep.-elect Mike Lawler, who could have a very tough time in 2024 defending a Biden +10 district in a presidential year. Jones isn't saying he'll run just yet, but 'I care too deeply to go away,' from political life, he told City & State." "'Openly Gay' Rep.-Elect George Santos Didn't Disclose Divorce With Woman," by Daily Beast's Roger Sollenberger: "Republican congressman-elect George Santos is under new scrutiny after a New York Times report earlier this week uncovered a string of apparent outright fabrications at the heart of some of the most fundamental facts of his life, but that backstory may also be notable for what Santos did not include—a publicly undisclosed marriage. ... But according to court records obtained by The Daily Beast, Santos appears to be the subject of a previously unacknowledged Sept. 2019 divorce with a woman in Queens County, New York." — "George Santos Breaks Silence: 'I Have My Story to Tell.' (Next Week.)" by The New York Times' Grace Ashford and Michael Gold — New York Attorney General Tish James said her office will review the Santos situation. "Release secret Rikers Island violence data, NYC members of Congress demand of federal monitor," by New York Daily News' Graham Rayman "Senate approves $1 billion for 9/11 victims' health fund in spending deal," by New York Daily News' Michael McCauliff: "In the rush to wrap up the crucial year-end government funding bill before Christmas, Congress is wrapping up a pair of gifts for victims of 9/11, both for those alive and struggling and those who left suffering families behind. After months of delay and partisan infighting, the $1.7 trillion spending package passed in the Senate on Thursday with last-second amendments to extend health care for 9/11 survivors and to boost compensation for the families of people who were killed in the attacks."
| | Biden and the Boroughs | | More than $9B announced for New York under Biden infrastructure package, by POLITICO's Danielle Muoio Dunn: After years of gridlock in Washington over infrastructure spending, leaders across New York state are finally seeing green. The federal government has so far announced more than $9 billion in new funding for public works projects throughout the state, the result of President Joe Biden's $1 trillion infrastructure package.
| | AROUND NEW YORK | | — Airport traffic last month exceeded pre-pandemic rates for the first time since the pandemic began. — Five people were injured when a Staten Island ferry boat caught fire with 700 people aboard. — It's going to be the coldest Christmas in decades. — NYU's emergency room has given priority treatment to donors and other influential patients. — Nurses at 12 city hospitals voted to authorize a strike if they are unable to reach agreement on a new contract. — A Manhattan federal judge agreed to release FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried on a $250 million bond as he awaits trial on wire fraud, money laundering and campaign finance charges. — Saratoga Springs officials are now free to publicly discuss a police shooting last month. — Hochul's administration is weighing what to do with a dozen former prison sites scattered around New York that remain vacant. — DOH First Deputy Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer Eugene Heslin told The Capitol Pressroom "Frankly, I don't think [mask] mandates work."
| | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Bill Kristol … Fox News' Shannon Bream … Lauren Kahn … Abe Sutton … Hilly Novik-Sandberg … (was Tuesday): Cory Epstein
| | Real Estate | | "In the Village, Another Piece of the City's History Is Coming Down," by The New York Times' Penelope Green: "One Monday in late November, preservationists, politicians, neighbors and looky-loos gathered at dusk on Manhattan's tiny Gay Street, a slim crescent in the heart of Greenwich Village, to protest the demolition of a nearly 200-year-old house there. The place in question, 14 Gay Street, is one of a clutch of six winsome but precarious early 19th-century buildings on Gay and Christopher Streets that were owned for decades by Celeste Martin, a singular character devoted to her properties and to the often eccentric cast of tenants she nurtured." | | | | 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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