News: Adams’ very public Republican rebuffs

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Adams’ very public Republican rebuffs

Mar 15, 2023

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There’s no love lost between Eric Adams and Florida Republicans, and the New York City mayor seems to want everyone to know it.

The latest scuffle is a Twitter brawl over the weekend with GOP Sen. Rick Scott, who attacked Adams’ new plan to send asylum seekers upstate to receive employment training while they wait for their paperwork to process.

“New Yorkers are fleeing due to the high crime, high taxes, and woke leadership,” Scott tweeted Friday. “Now @NYCMayor wants them to pay for illegal migrants to go to school? Mayor Adams’ leadership is an embarrassment.”

“This isn’t true and you know it,” Adams countered. “Stop misleading the public and do your job.”

He traded barbs just a few weeks ago with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was on a sudden trip to Staten Island. “Welcome to NYC,” Adams tweeted at the governor, “a place where we don’t ban books, discriminate against our LGBTQ+ neighbors, use asylum seekers as props, or let the government stand between a woman and health care.”

Dusting it up with Sunshine State conservatives might look ugly on a Twitter feed. But politically, it could be a boon with voters at a time the mayor could use one.

“Sparring with unlikable Republicans — national Republicans, Trump Republicans — in New York is always a good idea,” said Chris Coffey, CEO of Tusk Strategies and a former adviser to Mike Bloomberg and Andrew Yang. “It’s hard to find things in New York City that unify New Yorkers.”

It’s all part of an attempt to rally his base, according to Jim McLaughlin, a Republican pollster whose firm’s clients have included Scott as well as former GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin. Adams’ numbers — recently bogged down by voters’ dissatisfaction with his handling of crime — “are not great right now,” McLaughlin said.

Adams is also in the thick of a tough budget season that so far has been hampered by criticism of unpopular cuts he’s proposed in response to dueling — and expensive — crises. The influx of asylum seekers, which was partially caused by Republican governors sending them to New York, could set the city back billions of dollars.

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WHERE’S KATHY? In Westchester talking about her housing proposal and in New York City speaking at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Women History Month Reception.

WHERE’S ERIC? Speaking at a ribbon-cutting for the Manhattan Neighborhood Network and making an infrastructure-related announcement. Then he’ll speak at the National Faith Leaders' Gun Violence Prevention Summit and at the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon before making a law enforcement-related announcement with state AG Letitia James. After that, he’ll highlight the need for donations for asylum seekers at an event at the Stewart Hotel.

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What City Hall's reading

“NYC Mayor Adams’ inauguration committee accused of accepting ‘prohibited donations,’” by Daily News’ Chris Sommerfeldt: “Mayor Adams’ inauguration committee is facing accusations that it accepted illicit contributions and violated other campaign finance rules before and after Adams took office last year, according to city records. A notice made public this week states that the city Campaign Finance Board will hold a meeting Wednesday to review allegations that Adams’ inauguration committee raked in ‘prohibited donations,’ failed to ‘properly wind down’ its operations and didn’t respond to the board’s ‘requests for information and documentation.”

“Queens councilmember calls for assemblymember’s resignation after sexual assault allegations,” by WNYC’s Catalina Gonella: “Councilmember Robert Holden said Assemblymember Juan Ardila should step down from his role after two women accused him of sexual assault at a party in 2015, according to stories reported by the Queens Chronicle and Queens Eagle on Monday.”

— Ardila apologized for harm caused to the individuals and his community. In a statement posted to Twitter he also committed to “a process of accountability.”

“AG Letitia James to host ‘Drag Story Hour’ for kids in NYC — sparking outrage,” by New York Post’s Emily Crane: “New York Attorney General Letitia James is set to host a “Drag Story Hour” for children in Manhattan this weekend — and the event is sparking outrage over the use of taxpayer money for the already controversial event. James and a string of fellow elected Democratic city and state leaders plan to attend Sunday’s event in the West Village where “families with children” are invited to watch drag performers read books over a four-hour stretch.”

“Why can’t the City Council get the NYPD to show up at a hearing?,” by City & State’s Annie McDonough: “Several lawmakers have called for the City Council to use its subpoena power to compel the NYPD to testify following their no-show at a recent hearing.”

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WHAT ALBANY'S READING

ONE-HOUSE BUDGETS came out, snow or no. Let’s recap:

— “Albany Dems reject Gov. Hochul’s bail reform fix, charter school hike in budget,” by New York Post’s Zach Williams

— “State Legislators Fill MTA Fiscal Hole, Reject Fare Hike — But Don’t Expand Service,” by Streetsblog NYC’s Dave Colon

— “NY Dem lawmakers want incentives, tenant protections added to Hochul housing plan,” by Daily News’ Denis Slattery

— “State Senate budget includes wage hike that differs from Hochul's plan,” by Times Union’s Raga Justin

— “NY Senate Demands Judicial Escort Data Or $10M Budget Cut,” by Law 360’s Frank G. Runyeon: “According to a draft budget bill obtained by Law360, the New York State Senate seeks to add to the Judiciary Law to require an annual accounting of how the court system allocates drivers and security teams for judges, as well as who benefited from them in the past year, why, and who approved it. Lawmakers also want to know what these arrangements cost the state and whether the judiciary has suggestions for improvement.

— CLIMATE MOVES: Democratic lawmakers incorporated some significant climate-related proposals in their one-house budget documents Tuesday, including provisions to prohibit fossil fuel appliances in most new buildings. The Assembly for the first time included provisions to require new construction to be electrified, a significant step after Assembly Democrats did not endorse the measure last session. The Senate and Gov. Kathy Hochul are advancing similar proposals for the second year, pleasing environmental advocates who still want a faster timeline for implementation. — Marie J. French

“The New Belmont Park Could Become the Country’s Deadliest Track for Horses,” by New York Focus’ Sam Mellins: “Horse deaths are so common at Belmont that if New York’s state legislature approves Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposal to dedicate $455 million in public funds to renovate the facility, it could become the deadliest track in the country for horses, according to data Horseracing Wrongs shared with New York Focus.”

#UpstateAmerica: The fight to keep open the controversial wedding venue in Saratoga continues.

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FROM THE DELEGATION

Santos files paperwork for 2024 reelection bid, by POLITICO’s Matt Berg: The statement of candidacy filed to the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday — turned in on the final day allowed — keeps the door open for Santos to seek another term but does not guarantee he’ll run. The controversy-stricken lawmaker has yet to officially say whether he’ll try for reelection but has indicated he is open to such a run. The paperwork comes as lawmakers from his own party call for his resignation.

“Sold: Yacht With a Waterfall. Price: $19 Million. Broker: George Santos.,” by The New York Times’ Rebecca Davis O’Brien and William K. Rashbaum: “A $19 million luxury yacht deal brokered by Representative George Santos between two of his wealthy donors has captured the attention of federal and state authorities investigating the congressman’s campaign finances and personal business dealings.”

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AROUND NEW YORK

— The Board of Correction in New York City failed to even vote during its hourslong March meeting on two proposals: one to privatize the mail screening system and another to scale back how often the group meets.

—- A new study from John Jay College concludes New York’s bail laws reduced recidivism for most misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies in New York City.

— The number of New York City school safety agents has decreased nearly 25 percent from pre-pandemic levels.

— Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan chose Sovrana’s to fuel city street clearers through the continued precipitation.

— Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he’s launching an organization called Progressives for Israel.

SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: NYT’s Sopan Deb … Jenny 8. Lee … Brendan Buck of Seven Letter … Lauren Marshall of FGS Global … Kevin Infante … Chloe La Branche … Matt Baker … Rachel Schindler … Max Schindler

MAKING MOVES — Jake Leffew has left Schmidt Futures where he was an associate and program lead for the International Strategy Forum. He now works as a freelance speechwriter and ghostwriter, and is also exploring other creative and journalistic interests.

WEEKEND WEDDING — Rachael Baitel, chief of staff at Russell Street Ventures and a Trump administration and Goldman Sachs alum, and Alec Greenberg, who works for his family’s company Wearwell, got married on Saturday. They met through a mutual friend. Pic … Another pic

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Real Estate

“Not Even This City Councilman Can Find an Apartment in New York City,” by The New York Times’ Mihir Zaveri: “Over the past two months, in between City Council meetings and conversations with constituents, Mr. Ossé, a Democrat, has hunted for a suitable one-bedroom apartment within his district, which includes parts of the Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhoods in Brooklyn. But, as he recently complained on Twitter, the futile search — he has seen almost 20 places so far and applied to about five — has been ‘tiring, treacherous, and competitive.’”