| | | | | |  | | By Danielle Muoio Dunn, Anna Gronewold and Zachary Schermele | Presented by NY Renews, a project of Tides Advocacy | | 
Congestion pricing in parts of Manhattan continues to move forward with a series of regulatory hurdles being leaped. | AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey | It’s a big day for congestion pricing proponents. As we reported last week, the Biden administration has cleared the state to move forward with its congestion pricing plan, signing off on its environmental assessment of the new tolling system. This morning, Gov. Kathy Hochul released the lengthy environmental document, officially starting a 30-day public review period before final approval. Elected officials and advocates will rally today in Union Square to mark the occasion. The publication is significant because it starts the clock for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to finally put the new tolls into effect. The MTA has said its vendor has 310 days to set-up the cameras and new infrastructure once it gets final sign-off, putting it on track to launch next spring. But it also provides some clarity as to how the new surcharge would work. The MTA has agreed to spend $200 million over five years to address some of the concerns raised in the environmental review process. The final assessment includes a commitment to reduce the overnight toll rate, provide a discounted rate for low-income drivers and a promise not to charge taxi and for-hire vehicles more than once per day. It also includes funding to address air quality concerns in areas like the Bronx that could see more truck traffic from drivers trying to circumvent the new tolls. Will it be enough to appease opponents? It seems unlikely. New Jersey lawmakers continue to slam the proposal and Gov. Phil Murphy is assessing legal options. And there will be more opportunity for critics to make their voices heard. A six-member Traffic Mobility Review Board is tasked with recommending the final toll prices and any other additional exemptions or discounts. Those meetings will be public, the MTA said. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: After almost four years writing New York Playbook, today is my last with POLITICO. Thanks for reading, commenting and sharing your stories; it’s truly been a pleasure. Don’t worry, this newsletter is continuing on under the inimitable New York team. Send your tips, birthdays, exclusives and juicy scoops to Danielle Muoio Dunn. By email: dmuoio@politico.com or on Twitter: @muoiod. Signing off for now. — Anna Gronewold IT’S FRIDAY. WHERE’S KATHY? In New York City with no announced public schedule. WHERE’S ERIC? In New York City, delivering remarks at CUNY School of Law’s graduation and meeting with Michael Herzog, Israel’s ambassador to the United States. Then he’ll deliver remarks in the evening at events in Brooklyn and Queens.
| | A message from NY Renews, a project of Tides Advocacy: Gas Utilities Use Profits to Stall Climate Action. Last year, nearly 70% of voting New Yorkers called for climate action. Now, National Grid and other gas utilities are spending millions on disinformation to torpedo New York’s nation-leading Climate Act. Enough is enough! Join NY Renews—a coalition of 360+ organizations representing hundreds of thousands of constituents statewide—to demand National Grid stop pushing disinformation and leave fossil fuel front group New Yorkers for Affordable Energy. | | | |  | What City Hall's reading | | |  Protesters gather for a "Justice for Jordan Neely" rally in Washington Square Park on May 5, 2023, in New York City | Spencer Platt/Getty Images | Manhattan DA to charge former Marine in subway chokehold death, by POLITICO’s Joe Anuta and Janaki Chadha: A spokesperson for the Manhattan District attorney said Thursday that Daniel Penny, the commuter who put Jordan Neely in a fatal chokehold on the subway last week, will be arrested on second-degree manslaughter charges. The 24-year-old former Marine is expected to be arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court Friday in a case that has sparked local and national outrage including from New York officials who’ve called Penny a vigilante. — The city’s police oversight body, the Civilian Complaint Review Board, is also looking into the NYPD’s response to Neely’s death, the New York Post reports. Adams considers housing migrants in shuttered prison, by POLITICO’s Joseph Spector and Katelyn Cordero: Mayor Eric Adams said he would consider housing migrants in a closed Hudson Valley prison during a call with county officials Thursday as New York City struggles to find accommodations for thousands more asylum-seekers expected to arrive following the expiration of a federal border policy. In an audio of the call obtained exclusively by POLITICO, Adams made it clear that his administration desperately needs assistance from neighboring counties as the city has already provided housing, food and other services to more than 65,000 asylum-seekers over the past year. “New York City passes bill banning weight discrimination,” by CNN’s Vanessa Yurkevich: “On Thursday, the New York City council passed a bill that would make it illegal to discriminate against height and weight in housing, employment, and public accommodations…Only six other cities and one state have similar laws protecting Americans against height and weight discrimination: Binghamton, New York; Madison, Wisconsin; Urbana, Illinois; Washington, DC; San Francisco and Santa Cruz, California; and Michigan.” “NYC Mayor Adams says ‘Biden is my guy’ after surrogate squad snub,” by Daily News’ Tim Balk: “Mayor Adams said President Biden is “my guy” and that their relationship is a ‘good one’ on Thursday — comments that came after the New York leader was excluded from the president’s finalized squad of reelection campaign surrogates.” | | | | A message from NY Renews, a project of Tides Advocacy:   | | | | | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | “Supreme Court Throws Out Fraud Convictions in Albany Scandals,” by The New York Times’ Adam Liptak and Luis Ferré-Sadurní: “The Supreme Court on Thursday threw out two fraud convictions during Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s administration in New York, dealing prosecutors the latest in a series of setbacks in their efforts to pursue federal charges of public corruption in state government. The cases were among the blockbuster public corruption prosecutions brought by Preet Bharara, the former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, that fed into Albany’s reputation as a cesspool of corruption.” “New York AG sues gun company over device used by Buffalo mass shooter,” by ABC News’ Aaron Katersky and Bill Hutchinson: “A Georgia company that made a gun accessory the shooter in the 2022 Buffalo grocery store massacre used to modify his AR-15 rifle into ‘an even deadlier’ weapon is being accused in a civil lawsuit filed Thursday by New York Attorney General Letitia James of aiding and abetting in the racially-motivated rampage that killed 10 Black people. James is suing Mean Arms, which makes, sells and distributes a device meant to lock a magazine filled with ammunition onto a semiautomatic rifle, like the one authorities said Payton Gendron used to fatally shoot his victims at the Tops store on the east side of Buffalo.” “State Police union says investigators 'overwhelmed' by gun seizure cases,” by Times Union’s Brendan J. Lyons: “The union representing State Police investigators said the surging number of cases involving “extreme risk protection orders” that require them to seek court orders to seize firearms from a person they believe to be a danger is pulling them away from other investigations and leaving them ‘overwhelmed.’ The situation is being exacerbated by retirements, promotions and transfers of investigators and State Police investigators, whose ranks have dropped from more than 1,300 in 2011 to around 1,100.” BEHIND THE SCENES: “Lobbying, Marketing Helped Secure NYRA's $455M Funding,” Tom Precious for Bloodhorse: “The story of getting to the point of approval of a $455 million Belmont construction loan from New York State to NYRA is one involving many fiscal and political complexities, timing, connections, flexibility, and, importantly, something rare in the history of New York racing matters at the state Capitol: an alignment of stakeholders from across racing, business, and union interests.” #UpstateAmerica: At St. Brian Clothiers in Buffalo, anyone who needs a suit can walk in and will be sized and dressed for free. | | A message from NY Renews, a project of Tides Advocacy: Drop the Front, NY Gas Utilities
National Grid and other gas utilities are spending big on disinformation to scare legislators away from implementing New York’s landmark 2019 Climate Act. National Grid actively spreads disinformation and false solutions through the front group New Yorkers for Affordable Energy.
NYS legislators: our climate future is at stake, and the sides couldn’t be clearer. New Yorkers demand a clean energy economy that protects their families from extreme weather, polluted air, and spiraling energy bills. Gas utilities overrule our votes, raid our wallets, and poison our lungs—just to keep their record profits flowing. Will you take a stand against the lies?
Join NY Renews to demand National Grid stop pushing climate and energy disinformation and leave the fossil fuel front group New Yorkers for Affordable Energy today. Our future depends on it. | | | | | FROM THE DELEGATION | | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer is recommending Margaret Garnett, Deputy U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and a fellow Brooklynite, as SDNY district judge. He’s sent the name to the Biden-Harris administration, according to Schumer’s office. “George Santos Settles Stolen-Check Case in Brazil,” New York Times’ Grace Ashford, Leonardo Coelho: “Mr. Santos and Brazilian prosecutors on Thursday agreed to resolve a criminal charge that involved a pair of shoes and a stolen checkbook. Mr. Santos, who appeared remotely, accepted responsibility for his actions and agreed to pay 24,000 Brazilian reais (about $4,850), some of which will go to the victim, and some to charity, according to documents viewed by The New York Times.” | | TRUMP'S NEW YORK | | | | 
Republican Presidential Town Hall with Donald Trump moderated by Kaitlan Collins Live from New Hampshire on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. | CNN | Trump appeals verdict finding him liable for sexual assault, by POLITICO’s Kelly Garrity: Former President Donald Trump is appealing a jury’s verdict finding him liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll. Trump’s lawyers filed a notice of appeal in the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday, two days after the nine-person jury ordered Trump to pay Carroll $5 million in damages. — “E. Jean Carroll May Sue Trump a Third Time After ‘Vile’ Comments on CNN,” by The New York Times’ Benjamin Weiser, Lola Fadulu and Kate Christobek | | | | DON’T MISS THE POLITICO ENERGY SUMMIT: A new world energy order is emerging and America’s place in it is at a critical juncture. Join POLITICO on Thursday, May 18 for our first-ever energy summit to explore how the U.S. is positioning itself in a complicated energy future. We’ll explore progress on infrastructure and climate funding dedicated to building a renewable energy economy, Biden’s environmental justice proposals, and so much more. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | AROUND NEW YORK | |
— The city Department of Buildings issued partial vacate orders to seven parking garages in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx after last month’s death of a garage worker.
— Vernon Downs racetrack and casino may shut down by the end of the year unless the state restores a tax cut received a few years ago, owner Jeff Gural said. — A jury awarded $95 million to a man who alleged he was sexually abused in 1979 by a former Rochester-area pries. — Advocacy groups are pushing lawmakers to support the approval of supervised injection sites, with three weeks remaining in the legislative session. — Starbuck workers in one Manhattan location want to oust their union.
| | | | GET READY FOR GLOBAL TECH DAY: Join POLITICO Live as we launch our first Global Tech Day alongside London Tech Week on Thursday, June 15. Register now for continuing updates and to be a part of this momentous and program-packed day! From the blockchain, to AI, and autonomous vehicles, technology is changing how power is exercised around the world, so who will write the rules? REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Matthew Hiltzik … Paul Begala … CNN’s Natasha Bertrand … Forbes’ Alexandra Levine … Patricia Zengerle of Reuters … Penny Lee of the Financial Technology Association … CBS’ Elizabeth Campbell … Tommy Gardner … May Li MAKING MOVES – Campbell Millum is now VP/head of communications and external affairs for youth transportation company HopSkipDrive. She most recently was head of global comms at Bird and is an alum of Lyft and DoorDash. … Sam Silverman has been promoted to be comms director for Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.). He most recently was press secretary for Ryan. | | | Real Estate | | | “NYC Council plans affordable housing targets to spur development in city's wealthier neighborhoods,” by Gothamist’s David Brand: “The ‘Fair Housing Framework’ legislation introduced by Speaker Adrienne Adams comes as New York City is struggling to meet the housing needs of its low- and middle-income residents, with rents reaching record highs and empty, affordable units hard to come by, especially for the poorest New Yorkers. The speaker’s plan bears similarities to an ambitious housing proposal put forth by Gov. Kathy Hochul earlier this year, which would have set new housing targets for every town in the state and every community district in the city. But unlike Hochul’s proposal, which alienated suburban lawmakers by threatening penalties for missing the mark, the Council-backed plan offers no consequences.” “New York City shelters are backlogged because of a lack of long-term housing,” by City & State’s Sahalie Donaldson: “Still, many homeless and immigrant advocates felt that the city has been disproportionately investing in the hotel shelters and other emergency housing instead of bolstering pathways for migrants to obtain permanent housing, such as expanding a vital housing voucher program to undocumented immigrants.”
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