| | | | |  | | By Anna Gronewold and Eleonora Francica | | | |  Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks to reporters in the Red Room at the State Capitol on Friday, March 31, 2023. On Wednesday, she visited the Legislative Correspondents Association office to give a budget update. | Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul | Gov. Kathy Hochul dropped by the press room in an otherwise quiet Capitol on Wednesday afternoon to talk about the state budget, now six days late. She brought Thin Mints for the handful of reporters who happened to be around for the unannounced visit, perhaps to soften a blow she delivered: Budget negotiations will continue through this weekend — and likely past the extended deadline she and the Legislature had set for this Monday. Hochul didn’t bring much news. When asked about how talks were going, she reiterated she wants changes to the state’s bail laws and a big housing push included in the finalized budget, two items she’s determined are better to “get right” than to deliver on any official timeline. She and legislative leaders are “in a good place” and meeting regularly, she said, but will be slightly derailed by Passover and Easter holiday observances. “The confluence of those dates at this time doesn’t always happen — didn’t happen last year — but because of that you sort of lose some time, and so we’ll be able to pick again in earnest after the holidays,” she said. We all know that “picking up” negotiations speaks very little to finalizing a full budget deal, drafting or passing $227 billion worth of budget bills, so seems like we’ll be looking at another extender come Monday. Holding up the budget is a tactic that’s been used by all of Albany’s powerbrokers with varied levels of success over the years. In 2010, former Gov. David Paterson extended negotiations into August and eventually began a dramatic move to stuff the extension bills with spending cuts and other unfavorable policy items in an effort to force the Legislature’s hand. It doesn’t sound like we’re headed to that level of chaos or contentiousness at the moment. Everyone, including Hochul, pretty much agrees this is the governor’s doing, but none of the leaders are calling one another names or casting public blame yet. Still, it probably wouldn’t hurt to start a pool with your colleagues, friends and family regarding whether we’ll see a state spending plan before Tulip Fest. IT’S THURSDAY. 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. WHERE’S ERIC? Speaking at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of the Brooklyn Chinese-American Association Bensonhurst Senior Center and later at a Bangladeshi Humanitarian Aid and Leadership Outreach iftar event for Ramadan. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Even when I was heavier, I was still a good-looking guy.” — Mayor Eric Adams, responding to a question about weight discrimination legislation moving through the City Council. | | | | 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 IS READING | | |  Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Office of Labor Relations commissioner Renee Campion announce a tentative contract agreement with the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association at City Hall on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. | Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office | “NYC and PBA police union reach new contract after seven years of disagreement; deal extends to 2025,” by Daily News’ Chris Sommerfeldt and Michael Gartland: “Mayor Adams and the Police Benevolent Association unveiled a tentative new labor agreement Wednesday, marking the end of a seven-year stretch in which the NYPD’s biggest union worked without a formal contract. The new deal extends to 2025, and will grant rank-and-file cops raises retroactive to 2017. It also includes a provision for a pilot program that will allow about 400 police officers to pull longer hours in exchange for working fewer shifts throughout the work week.” “New York City Mayor Wanted Javits Center Used for Migrants,” by Bloomberg’s Laura Nahmias and Gregory Korte: “The crisis got so bad that in January Adams asked New York Governor Kathy Hochul if the state could convert the Javits Convention Center on Manhattan’s West Side into emergency housing, according to a letter obtained by Bloomberg under a public records request. The request went nowhere.” “Democratic Queens DA candidate courting far right Republicans,” by City and State’s Jeff Coltin: “Retired Judge George Grasso has an interesting strategy as he runs in the Democratic primary against Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz: attending Republican club meetings. Grasso was a featured guest at the March 2 meeting of the Queens Village Republican Club. That’s a club that has embraced the ‘MAGA’ side of the modern Republican Party.” “Surviving the Water: New York City’s Flooding Crisis in the Age of Climate Change,” by Documented’s Rommel H. Ojeda and Climate Central’s John Upton: “A data analysis by Documented and Climate Central shows that vulnerable basement apartments are clustered in areas at high risk of flooding. Those apartments are in parts of New York City where census data shows immigrants and people of color like the Shivprasads tend to live, particularly in parts of Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx.” | | | | A message from Uber:   | | | | | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | | 
Basil Seggos, the commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Conservation, said a major change in accounting for greenhouse gas emissions is no longer a priority in budget talks. | AP Photo | Hochul officials drop proposal to weaken climate law amid criticism, by POLITICO’s Marie J. French: Gov. Kathy Hochul’s top climate officials, a day after defending a proposal to rewrite the climate law because of cost concerns, said Wednesday that the major change is no longer a priority in budget negotiations after backlash from environmental advocates and lawmakers. In an interview with POLITICO, state Department of Environmental Commissioner Basil Seggos and NYSERDA president and CEO Doreen Harris indicated that Hochul would not be pushing a controversial plan to change how New York accounts for its emissions…She is still seeking a deal on “cap and invest,” which would set up an auction for emissions allowances and drive increased gas and energy prices that would include a rebate to consumers to cushion the cost at the pump, they said. “Indian Point shutdown was supposed to quiet anti-nuclear critics. Not a chance,” by USA Today Network’s Thomas C. Zambito: “The teardown of the Indian Point nuclear power plant has reignited a battle that appeared to be over when the plant shut down two years ago. The New Jersey company demolishing the plant is pushing back against opponents who want to stop it from discharging radiological water into the Hudson River. Their response? They'd lay workers off if state lawmakers and environmental groups don’t back off.” “Bills, New York, Erie County reach final stadium deal; will go to Legislature for vote,” by Buffalo News’ Stephen T. Watson and Michael Petro: “Just over a year after a memorandum of understanding was reached by the Buffalo Bills, Erie County and New York State on a new stadium deal for the football team, the full agreement, including a new 30-year lease, has been released to the public. The documents were clocked in Tuesday with Erie County, and now the County Legislature will have 30 days to review them before deciding whether to give the $1.54 billion project the final OK it needs to proceed.” #UpstateAmerica: Delmar is in disarray over the yurts being utilized by Bethlehem Children's School.
| | | | 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
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- 31% off retail prescription drugs on average
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NYC taxi drivers don't have access to the same benefits.
Learn More. | | | | | TRUMP'S NEW YORK | | “Data shows Manhattan district attorney’s office has rarely pursued the charges Trump faces,” by Times Union’s Joshua Solomon: “Records show there have been roughly eight times in the past few years when the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office prosecuted the felony charge of falsifying business records. Albany County, home of the state Capitol and its numerous agencies, prosecuted 20 cases for that charge during the same period — which was the highest of any county in New York. In the past three and a half years, there were fewer than 300 instances statewide of an individual facing a top-level charge of falsifying business records in the first degree. Even more rare: a conviction, let alone a felony conviction, for the offenses filed against Trump, which requires proving the intent to commit or aid in another crime.” | | FROM THE DELEGATION | | | | 
Seeking reelection next year, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand picked up a major union endorsement. | Francis Chung/POLITICO |
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union is getting out early to endorse U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s reelection, the first major labor backer for her 2024 run. RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum called Gillibrand “a tireless fighter for working families throughout her entire career,” and said “we are excited to support her campaign and to work together for years to come."
“AOC, Nadler and other NY pols call on Hochul to extend health coverage to undocumented migrants,” by WNYC’s Caroline Lewis: “Members of New York’s congressional delegation, including Reps. Jerry Nadler and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, sent Gov. Kathy Hochul a letter on Tuesday urging her to expand public health coverage to undocumented immigrants in the upcoming state budget. ‘We believe that health care is a human right, regardless of immigration status,’ the federal lawmakers wrote. Hochul received a similar letter this week from city Comptroller Brad Lander and other local politicians from across the state. Mayor Eric Adams fired off his own version last week. All are hoping to reverse Hochul’s stance on the issue as budget talks continue past the April 1 deadline.” | | | | 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. | | | | | | | AROUND NEW YORK | | — U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer is calling for a federal investigation of the “swatting” hoaxes called in as active shooter threats to schools across the state. — Two Albany trash collectors were first on the scene to save residents from a massive four-building fire. — An NYPD officer was shot and wounded in Jamaica, Queens, but is in stable condition. — The cousin of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is fundraising for current Mayor Eric Adams, reports City and State’s Jeff Coltin. Apparently, he’s also named Rudy Giuliani (different middle names, though).
| | | | 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: MPA’s Charles Rivkin … NYT’s Glenn Thrush … WSJ’s Keach Hagey … Scott Reed … CNN’s Sunlen Serfaty … Lucy Westcott MEDIAWATCH – Téa Kvetenadze is now the real estate reporter for the N.Y. Daily News. She most recently was a stringer for the New York Times.
| | | Real Estate | | | “Program That Fights Homelessness Is Mired in Dysfunction, Advocates Say,” by The New York Times’ Mihir Zaveri: “Getting a voucher in the first place can require a complicated amount of paperwork. People with vouchers struggle to find apartments as the city deals with a dire housing shortage. And discrimination by landlords and brokers against people with vouchers, while illegal, is widespread. Ms. Daniel’s experience, housing advocates contend, illustrates another dimension of the problem: how dysfunction within city agencies leads to people being improperly kicked out of voucher programs.” | | | | 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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