| | | | |  | | By Anna Gronewold, Joe Anuta and Zachary Schermele | | | |  Mayor Eric Adams makes a public safety announcement with NYPD Commissioner Sewell and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phillip Banks at City Hall on Monday, April 3, 2023. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office | Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office | New York City’s new crime stats are a mixed bag for Mayor Eric Adams, who is trying to make good on his campaign promise to make the city safer. The NYPD on Thursday said several serious crime categories — including murder, rape, robbery, burglary and theft — were down during the first quarter of the year compared to the same time in 2022. “It’s clear that we have made progress,” NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said, but she promised to “continue to use every resource available to make our neighborhoods safe and to bring anyone who threatens that safety to account.” Murders fell by nearly 13 percent. That trend was outpaced by a 23 percent drop in shootings and 17 percent decrease in shooting victims. Burglaries fell by roughly 6 percent, rapes dropped by more than 7 percent, and theft and robberies declined slightly, by less than 3 percent apiece. Crimes on the subway and in stations — which captured headlines last year and played a role in the close gubernatorial race — fell by roughly 8 percent, Sewell said. The bad news is that felony assaults were up, a phenomenon that officials attributed largely to domestic incidents and attacks on police officers. Major felony arrests are at a 24-year high, Sewell said, while arrests on the transit system have grown by nearly 50 percent so far this year. But bad news can also be good news, if you’re trying to convince the public of controversial policies to combat crime. A portion of the crime briefing was spent detailing the case of someone accused of multiple burglaries who had been released without bail by a judge — a not-so-subtle jab at bail laws currently being discussed in Albany. Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul want to give judges more discretion to set bail and to clarify that they have the power to do so for most serious crimes. To that effect, Hochul released some crime news of her own on Thursday. She used an official press release to highlight the case of a man who was arrested on state parole violations yesterday. He had been accused of strangling his 15-year-old stepson to death, but on Wednesday a Bronx judge set him free without bail. “We will continue working closely with the Bronx District Attorney's office throughout this process as it prosecutes the charges, and we will continue coordinating with our partners in law enforcement to strengthen public safety across the State,” Hochul said in a statement, amid her attempts to negotiate bail change proposals into a now-7-day-late state budget. — Joe Anuta and Anna Gronewold IT’S FRIDAY. Got tips, suggestions or thoughts? Let us know ... By email: agronewold@politico.com or on Twitter: @annagronewold WHERE’S KATHY? In Albany with no announced public schedule, but anticipating the Easter Egg Roll at the Executive Residence on Saturday. WHERE’S ERIC? In New York City with no public events scheduled.
| | | | A message from Uber: NYC Uber drivers have gotten BIGGER RATE INCREASES than city employees. In the last two years, NYC Uber drivers have had their rates increased nearly 14% since 2020. That’s more than double the pay raises New York City employees have received. Learn More. | | | |  | What City Hall's reading | | “New York City Pensions to Divest Future Private Equity Holdings from Fossil Fuels,” by New York Focus’ Lilah Burke: “The commitment is part of a new climate plan unveiled yesterday by Comptroller Brad Lander to chart the course of the retirement systems for municipal workers and teachers – together worth $172 billion – to net zero emissions across their portfolios by 2040. Lander called it ‘the most ambitious plan undertaken by a U.S. public pension fund.’” “Progressive NYC pols tour Rikers Island as they push back on Gov. Hochul’s plan to roll back bail reform in state budget,” by Daily News’ Graham Rayman and Denis Slattery: “A group of progressive lawmakers visited Rikers Island on Thursday to highlight problems in New York City’s trouble-plagued jails as they pushed back on Gov. Hochul’s proposed bail reform rollbacks….‘We don’t have a policy problem when it comes to bail — we have a political problem,’ Sen. Kristen Gonzalez (D-Queens) said following the visit.” — Brooklyn Assemblymember Latrice Walker vowed another hunger strike to protest Hochul’s proposed changes. “Voting in Other Languages: Registration Hindered By Lack of Translation,” by THE CITY’s Divya Murthy: “New York City allows voters to use voter registration forms written in 15 languages — but they can only be filled out in English. A state law passed to expand translation for voters has not yet been rolled out in the five boroughs.”
| | | | A message from Uber:   | | | | | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | |  Associate Justice Clarence Thomas has for more than two decades accepted luxury trips, including to the Adirondacks in New York, nearly every year from Republican megadonor Harlan Crow without reporting them on financial disclosure forms, ProPublica reports. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo | "Hochul has been reaching across the aisle in Albany as budget talks continue," by Spectrum’s Nick Reisman: “New York state government is controlled by Democrats. The party holds all statewide offices and supermajorities in the state Senate and Assembly. But some Republicans like Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt this year have been hearing from the state's top Democrat: Gov. Kathy Hochul.” “NY state agency failed to guide disabled group homes through COVID, comptroller says,” by WNYC’s Michelle Bocanegra: “DiNapoli and his auditors said the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities failed to provide steady oversight and guidance to the majority of group homes as the public health crisis began to unravel. Though the agency issued emergency guidance to the eight state-run intermediate care facilities, close to 7,000 other sites — comprising nearly all of the homes under the agency’s purview — were excluded from its guidance, auditors said.” “Homegrown marijuana for personal use is still outlawed in New York,” by Times Union’s Brendon J. Lyons: “A provision in the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act approved the home cultivation of cannabis for personal use, but declared it can begin only after the state Office of Cannabis Management has issued “regulations governing home cultivation of cannabis, which will occur within 18 months of the first adult-use retail sale.” But the first ‘legal’ sale of recreational marijuana in New York did not take place until late December when a downstate nonprofit organization, Housing Works, opened a retail marijuana shop in New York City. That means the regulations authorizing homegrown plants for personal use may not be approved until July 2024.” RAJIV RAO, deputy chief information officer for technology and chief technology officer at the Office of Information Technology Services, resigned on March 24, several weeks after he had taken a voluntary leave of absence amid reviews of his handling of government contracts with former acting Budget Director Sandra L. Beattie. from Times Union’s Brendan J Lyons #UpstateAmerica: Who loves upstate? Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, especially when his trips are courtesy of Republican megadonor Harlan Crow. From ProPublica’s report, describing Crow’s Adirondacks resort: “Closed off from the public by ornate wooden gates, the 105-acre property, once the summer retreat of the same heiress who built Mar-a-Lago, features an artificial waterfall and a great hall where Crow’s guests are served meals prepared by private chefs. Inside, there’s clear evidence of Crow and Thomas’ relationship: a painting of the two men at the resort, sitting outdoors smoking cigars alongside conservative political operatives.” | | | | A message from Uber: When it comes to benefits, NYC Uber drivers are covered. They have access to:
- Dental coverage
- Vision coverage
- Visits to medical clinics
- Mental health counseling
- 31% off retail prescription drugs on average
- 24/7 Telemedicine
NYC taxi drivers don't have access to the same benefits.
Learn More. | | | | | FROM THE DELEGATION | | | 
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 09: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks to supporters during an election night watch party at the MotorCity Casino Hotel on November 09, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. Gov. Whitmer won her race over Republican challenger Tudor Dixon. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) | Brandon Bell/Getty Images | Whitmania: Dems eye Michigan gov’s sister for battleground House race, by POLITICO’s Sarah Ferris, Ally Mutnick and Nicholas Wu: The Whitmer political dynasty might be expanding — into the New York City suburbs. Liz Whitmer Gereghty, the Westchester County-based sister of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, is seriously considering a run for one of the House’s most high-profile battleground seats this cycle, according to two people familiar with her thinking who were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss her plans. | | | | 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. | | | | | | | TRUMP'S NEW YORK | | “Trump’s Arrest Lifts Campaign of Man He Once Condemned,” by The New York Times’ Jeffery C. Mays: “Mr. Trump’s indictment and Mr. Salaam’s history with the former president have generated new interest in his campaign, with more volunteers, a slight uptick in donations and several appearances on MSNBC. Mr. Salaam, who speaks with the cadence of a preacher and the optimism of a motivational speaker, bounced between quoting James Baldwin, Neo from ‘The Matrix,’ his mother and his mentor Les Brown, a former politician and life coach, as he remarked that the timing of Mr. Trump’s indictment was no coincidence.”
| | AROUND NEW YORK | | — The Empire Center says the hospital lobby’s TV campaign is spreading misinformation about Medicaid. — AG Tish James has subpoenaed more Saratoga officials in her investigation into possible city police misconduct. — Eight tenants in New York City have filed a class action lawsuit against the city’s Department of Social Services for terminating their inclusion in rental voucher programs. — Nicholas Tartaglione, a retired police officer who had shared a cell with Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier, killed four men over a debt, federal prosecutors said. — Union activist and writer Jane LaTour, who chronicled the lives of women in traditionally male labor unions, died on Monday. | | | | GO INSIDE THE 2023 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is proud to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage, insider nuggets and unparalleled insights from the 2023 Global Conference, which will convene leaders in health, finance, politics, philanthropy and entertainment from April 30-May 3. This year’s theme, Advancing a Thriving World, will challenge and inspire attendees to lean into building an optimistic coalition capable of tackling the issues and inequities we collectively face. Don’t miss a thing — subscribe today for a front row seat. | | | | | | | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY: CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Noah Gray, Brad Parks and Cliff Hackel … POLITICO’s Daniel Lippman and Fernando Rodas … Darren Samuelsohn … HuffPost’s Paige Lavender … Maggie Severns … Bill McQuillen of Invariant … Ming Dang … Annalise Myre MAKING MOVES -- Jen Wlach is launching the new communications consulting firm Maven Media Strategies, which provides strategic advising and media relations services to clients across all sectors. She is a former partner at Mercury, where she helped lead their media and thought leadership practices, and is also an ABC News alum. … Emma Brodie is now executive editor at Chronicle Books. She most recently was executive editor at Little, Brown Book Group. ... … Tom Hyland is now legislative director for Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.). He most recently was LD for former Rep. Joe Sempolinski (R-N.Y.). ... Taylor Weyeneth is now comms director for Rep. Brandon Williams (R-N.Y.). He most recently was managing director at 20K Strategies and campaign manager for Colin Schmitt’s congressional campaign and is an alum of the Office of National Drug Control Policy in the Trump administration. WEDDING -- Sophie Oreck, senior director of experiential marketing at International Rescue Committee and a POLITICO alum, recently married Patrick Rafferty, director of enterprise solutions at IDScan.net. The couple met in New Orleans where they are both from and got married in New Orleans at the Contemporary Arts Center (where Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian were married). Pic … Another pic FOR YOUR RADAR – “KKR set to buy stake in communications group FGS Global,” by by FT’s Arash Massoudi and Ivan Levingston: “KKR is nearing a deal to buy a large stake in FGS Global that will value the WPP-backed financial communications company at about $1.4bn, according to people with knowledge of the matter.” IN MEMORIAM — “Mimi Sheraton, influential food writer and reviewer, dies at 97: Her omnivore approach to culinary cultures prompted a shift in Americans’ eating habits,” by WaPo’s Brian Murphy | | Real Estate | | “The Brooklyn Navy Yard Has Become a Lab for Planet-Saving Tech,” by New York Times’ Winnie Hu: “The site was made possible through Yard Labs, a new initiative that invites green technology companies to test out their ideas and products within the controlled confines of a city-within-a-city. Behind the gates of the 300-acre waterfront complex, there are 60 industrial buildings, a private road network, a Wegmans supermarket and a power plant. ‘They need a baseline, they need a place to do trial-and-error,’ said Lindsay Greene, the president and chief executive of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, a nonprofit that manages the city-owned site. Here, she said, companies ‘can migrate from a lab setting or a desert setting’ to an urban setting without the crowds and the traffic.” | | | | 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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