Watchdog vs. Digidog

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Jun 14, 2023 View in browser   By Joe Anuta, Hajah Bah and Julia Marsh Presented by New York Mayor Eric Adams looks back at Digidog mobile robot, during a news conference in Times Square on April 11. | New York City Office of The Mayor via AP At an April 11 event in Times Square, New York Mayor Eric Adams unveiled a pair of crime-fighting robots and a projectile-based GPS tracking device he said would help make the city safer. It was part of his broader desire to incorporate more technology into governance. Two months later, the Legal Aid Society is now accusing the mayor and his police department of failing to properly disclose how the droids and other surveillance technologies — new augmented reality and fingerprinting capabilities on smartphones — are used, along with any adverse impacts New Yorkers might face. On June 8, the organization sent a previously unreported letter to the NYPD’s inspector general, asking her to open a second probe of the department’s compliance with a 2020 law known as the Public Oversight over Surveillance Technology Act. “I think it is important for city government to make some sort of showing that the NYPD is not above the law,” said Shane Ferro, a staff attorney with Legal Aid who penned the letter. Under the POST Act, the department is required to publish so-called impact and use policies months before any new gizmo is deployed, while allowing the public weeks to comment. Instead, the NYPD has been updating old policy papers to include new devices and using the new tools immediately — an end-run the inspector general warned about in her last report. A spokesperson for the NYPD said the inspector general’s last audit found the department to be in compliance with the law and that the department takes the requirements of the POST Act seriously. The spokesperson said if the underlying function of a piece of tech is the same as one already in use, it makes more sense to simply update existing guidelines. In the case of the recently announced advances, the NYPD did those updates in a way that was consistent with the law. But Ferro said the department’s tactic leaves a host of questions unanswered. Is data stored on city servers or with third parties? Who has access to it? Which members of the department are allowed to use a given piece of gadgetry? Ferro also pointed to the mishaps the K5 autonomous security robot had several years ago. (One of the bots wheeled itself to a watery grave while another ran over a child’s leg.) “What happens when the 400-pound autonomous robot hits somebody or falls down the stairs?” she asked. IT’S WEDNESDAY. WHERE’S KATHY? Delivering remarks at the State Police Academy graduation in Albany. WHERE’S ERIC? Co-hosting a clergy roundtable with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., visiting the Peter Cardella Senior Citizen Center, and delivering remarks at a post-COVID-19 municipal workforce roundtable. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The New York City Police Department is a well-oiled machine,” Adams said Tuesday, assuring his press corps the agency would continue to function despite the sudden resignation of Commissioner Keechant Sewell. A message from Uber: Uber riders have already paid $629 Million in Congestion Pricing fees. If the Congestion Pricing on Uber rides goes up even more, it will put tens of thousands of NYC Uber Drivers out of work. That’s why 35,483 drivers across New York have signed a petition telling the MTA not to raise Congestion Pricing on them. Learn More   ABOVE THE FOLD FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The Democrats’ House Majority PAC has recruited troops for battle in New York. The group — armed with a $45 million account aimed at retaking New York seats lost to the GOP in 2022 — has made three hires for its “War Room” in the state. Dora Pekec, formerly a campaign manager for a Chicago City Council race and a researcher for Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s re-election bid, joins as a New York press secretary. Alisha Heng, whose Empire State experience includes serving in a deputy comms position for Rep. Dan Goldman’s campaign and working for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, will be another local press secretary for the PAC. New York Rapid Response Researcher Ceara Gilmartin-Donohue is the third new hire. Gilmartin-Donohue previously worked for both the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the DCCC. She’s a graduate of SUNY Geneseo. STATE OF THE YOUTH: New York ranks 30th out of 50 states for overall child well-being, according to The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s annu­al KIDS COUNT Data Book. New York also ranked 45th in the country for economic well-being, 36th for family and community, 16th for education and 9th for health. This year’s report highlights how the Covid-19 pandemic affected child well-being. About 42 percent of young children — ages three and four — are not in school and 34 percent of children have parents without secure employment. Nearly 40 percent of children live in households with a “high housing cost burden.” The state’s Council on Children and Families said New York children’s well-being improved or stayed the same in most areas measured. Ninety-seven in 100 children in New York currently have health insurance. The council also noted Gov. Kathy Hochul's plans to boost access to affordable child care, invest in the state’s child care workforce and help working families as part of the fiscal year 2024 budget. — Madina Touré   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.     WHAT CITY HALL IS READING N.Y Police Chief's Exit Is Latest in Exodus From Adams Administration, by The New York Times’ Dana Rubinstein, Jeffery C. Mays, and Emma G. Fitzsimmons: “After not even 18 months in office, Mayor Eric Adams of New York City has lost one top official after another from his administration, a troubling and unusual exodus as the city is confronted by multiple major challenges.” Judge will consider federal takeover of NYC jails, including Rikers, this summer, by Gothamist’s Matt Katz: “A federal judge opened the door on Tuesday for a federal takeover of city jails following a series of scathing court filings that described escalating violence and correction officials hiding information about violent incidents, including deaths.” Nearly 20% raises for NYC teachers in proposed deal, by Newsday’s Matthew Chayes: “Mayor Eric Adams announced the deal Tuesday with the president of the United Federation of Teachers, the labor union representing 120,000 education workers.”   A message from Uber:   WHAT ALBANY'S READING Hochul announces expansion of fully paid parental leave for NYS employees, by WGRZ: “An agreement with the state and CSEA will provide 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave to more than 52,000 employees.” Session shaped Hochul's tenuous relationship with Legislature, by Times Union’s Josh Solomon: “Members of the Democrat-controlled state Legislature and Hochul, a moderate Democrat fresh off her first full term, labored through a relationship that both sides publicly said was healthy, but Albany insiders often diagnosed as strained. The byproduct led to fights over judiciary selections, criminal justice, housing, environment, health care and more, but it also revealed the continued growing pains Democrats face in New York as they grapple with the gaps between the ideals of progressives and moderates.” Hochul to Biden administration: 'We need help' for migrant influx, by Spectrum News’ Nick Reisman   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.     TRUMP'S NEW YORK Donald Trump unloads on President Biden, Department of Justice at his club in Bedminster, N.J., by CBS’ Ali Bauman: “Trump's speech was followed by a private, closed-door fundraising event at the club. It was being billed as the first major fundraising event of his presidential campaign, and the Trump team hopes to raise $2 million." Judge allows E. Jean Carroll to amend her defamation lawsuit to seek more damages against Trump, by CNN’s Kara Scannell AROUND NEW YORK — Actor Treat Williams was flown to Albany to be treated for fatal injuries in a motorcycle crash near his Vermont home. — 48 people were arrested in the Rochester region on drug charges, Attorney General Tish James announced. — Around 22% of New York City is covered with trees. The City Council wants to increase that to 30%. — Caffe Italia plans on changing locations after 50 years. SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Former President Donald Trump … Meta’s Campbell Brown … Brian Fallon of Demand Justice and Barracks Row Media … Chamber of Commerce’s Sara Armstrong … CNN’s Pete Muntean … Northwestern Mutual’s Christopher Gahan ... Jon Lentz … (was Tuesday): Laurence Graff ... Mara Liasson ... Erik S. Pitchal ... Michael Stern ... Marissa Shorenstein (h/ts Jewish Insider) MAKING MOVES — Sidney Johnson is now press secretary for Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.). She most recently was press assistant for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Derek Perkinson is now Director of Advocacy for Bluejacket Strategies. Prior to Bluejacket, Derek served as NYS Field Director & Crisis Director for the National Action Network. A message from Uber: Who says polluting doesn’t pay? Today gas powered trucks pay $0 in Congestion Pricing  Meanwhile all electric Uber Green cars pay $2.75 in Congestion Pricing everytime they go into Manhattan’s congestion zone. Do you think electric Ubers should have to pay more than gas trucks? Learn More   Real Estate NYC Revenue Won’t Tank in Office ‘Doomsday’ Scenario, Comptroller Says, by Bloomberg’s Martin Z Braun: “A 'doomsday' scenario for the Manhattan office market would only result in a modest property tax revenue shortfall for New York City, according to city Comptroller Brad Lander.” Rent increases fought by tenants across NYC as Rent Guidelines Board weighs potential hikes of up to 7%, by Daily News’ Téa Kvetenadze: "'Asking people to choose between rent and food and medicine is beyond unfair, it’s obscene and amoral and [a] driving force in the housing crisis today,' said Douglas, an Elmhurst retiree, during the board hearing on rates for rent-stabilized units at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center on Monday evening."   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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