On hip-hop’s 50th birthday, a legendary DJ eyes office

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Aug 11, 2023 View in browser   By Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman Legendary DJ Eric B. is considering a run for office in New York. | Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office Eric B. & Rakim is one of the most influential groups in hip-hop history. Rolling Stone ranked them the fifth greatest musical duo of all time, ahead of Sonny & Cher and Outkast. They broke out in 1986 with their first single: “Eric B. is President.” Now, the DJ is thinking of a master plan: Eric B. is public advocate. Or Eric B. is city councilmember. Or maybe assemblymember. The artist, whose legal name is Eric Barrier, exclusively told Playbook that he’s seriously considering running for office and is putting together an exploratory team. “Jeff Aubry, he’s older now,” Barrier said, referring to the 75-year-old Assembly speaker pro tempore. “(Francisco) Moya’s seat is up in the City Council in Queens, I might go in that direction. … If whatshisname doesn’t run for public advocate again, I might run for his position.” Whatshisname is Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. And Eric B. dissed him. “The public advocate’s really been missing for the last year,” Barrier said. “He hasn’t been in the streets since he’s had the baby (in February 2022). You don’t hear from him. He’s been nowhere. And if you’re fighting for the people, you’ve got to be on the streets every day.” Williams’ team didn’t want beef, saying the public advocate has been working in the halls of government and in the streets for the last four years, and he’s planning to run for another four: “He’s always been a fan of Eric B. as an artist and is glad to see him getting involved in public service — and he’s always up for a collaboration." Moya likes him too. “I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of people running for that seat,” he said of the council district he’ll be term-limited out of in 2025. “I love Eric B. Not just his music, but I also know him personally. He’s a really great guy.” Barrier is on the board of Urban Upbound, which is Bishop Mitchell Taylor’s poverty alleviation nonprofit based in Long Island City. He’s also active with the NYPD’s Community Affairs Bureau. “I went to about 40 fucking National Night Out events,” he said. “It’s cool to see, people going to the police department, not thinking the department is the enemy.” Barrier also has a recurring role as a police lieutenant in the TV show Blue Bloods. He says he’s not a progressive, but “a Democrat with an open mind.” Barrier primarily lives in Henderson, Nevada. But he was born and raised in East Elmhurst, Queens. He says he’s in New York all the time and plans to officially move back and register to vote here, soon, probably in Queens. Why now? “I owe everything to New York City,” said the DJ. “I woke up one day and said I can’t keep throwing rocks at the system. Either you’re at the table or on the menu.” It’s an auspicious time for hip-hop and politics. Today is the 50th anniversary of the genre, which legend has it began on Aug. 11, 1973, at a party in the South Bronx. And don’t sweat the technique of going from rap to politics. Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado dropped an album as AD The Voice, and Newark, NJ Councilmember Dupré Kelly rapped in Lords of the Underground. Some of the most powerful politicians grew up with hip-hop, from Rep. Hakeem Jeffries to Mayor Eric Adams. “He’s been my man since before the pandemic,” Eric B. said about Eric A., who’s hosted him at a handful of press conferences. “I think he’s sharper now than he’s ever been. He sees all the sharks, all the snakes, and he has to avoid them.” HAPPY FRIDAY. You’ve made it to the weekend! Enjoy. And if you got news, send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman. WHERE’S KATHY? Speaking of rap, she'll be at Yankee Stadium to deliver remarks at the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop Concert. WHERE’S ERIC? He'll commemorate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop this morning at Gracie Mansion, then attend the funeral for NYPD Officer Alexis Martinez and later deliver remarks at a flag-raising ceremony for the Dominican Republic. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I suggest that you have Plan B, just in case, because you’re going to have people on the streets.” — City Council Member Gale Brewer, challenging the policy limiting single, adult migrants to 60 days in the shelter system.   A NEW PODCAST FROM POLITICO: Our new POLITICO Tech podcast is your daily download on the disruption that technology is bringing to politics and policy around the world. From AI and the metaverse to disinformation and cybersecurity, POLITICO Tech explores how today’s technology is shaping our world — and driving the policy decisions, innovations and industries that will matter tomorrow. SUBSCRIBE AND START LISTENING TODAY.     ABOVE THE FOLD Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg might be making good on a pledge to address police accountability. | Mary Altaffer/AP Photo When Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg secured a guilty plea Wednesday from the head of former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s security detail, it marked the third conviction of a member of the NYPD in less than a month. In some ways, it was a return to Bragg the candidate. In 2021, Bragg made police accountability a cornerstone of his campaign. Once in office, he literally created the Police Accountability Unit. However, Bragg’s progressive push ran into a major obstacle after he released a memo just weeks into his term urging no jail or prison time except for the most serious crimes. The backlash was fierce. But over the course of the next year, Bragg seemed to recover as he secured a conviction against the Trump Org. The trio of NYPD cases, however, could signal that he is ready to stress test his progressive bona fides once again. “I will continue to follow the facts, conduct rigorous investigations and bring cases against those who violate the public trust,” Bragg said in a statement to POLITICO. — Joe Anuta WHAT CITY HALL IS READING RIKERS REALITY CHECK: One day at Rikers Island, two starkly different descriptions. A deputy monitor charged with Rikers oversight testified Thursday that the jail complex saw 26 instances of use of force, four stabbings and slashings and 12 inmate-on-inmate fights last Tuesday. That's the same day that right-leaning City Council members visited and reported “a great atmosphere.” A judge is hearing arguments for and against a federal takeover of Rikers. Her decision may not come until February at the earliest. — Emily Ngo More city news: — New York Attorney General Tish James is no longer representing Gov. Kathy Hochul in the “right to shelter” legal case. (POLITICO) — “Digidogs” are the latest in crime-fighting technology. Privacy advocates are terrified. (POLITICO) — Inside the chaos brewing in the Manhattan Democratic party. (New York Focus) WHAT ALBANY'S READING Gov. Kathy Hochul. | Darren McGee/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul UP IN THE AIR: The shortage of air traffic controllers leading to delays in flights this summer — and likely into the fall — is unacceptable, Hochul said on Thursday. She added that the issue is being discussed with federal officials. Hochul was at Albany International Airport to tout a terminal expansion. But even with the new amenities (hello Chick-Fil-A!) at airports across New York, Hochul said she’s concerned with the limitations on flights resulting from the shortage. “We are very frustrated that there’s not enough of a backup to support air traffic controllers when they’re out,” Hochul said. “It seems to be affecting the quality of air transportation rather enormously.” — Nick Reisman HOCHUL AFTER PEREZ MEETING: The governor put out a statement late Thursday after meeting with Tom Perez, a senior adviser and assistant to President Joe Biden, about the state's migrant crisis: "Building on our daily conversations thus far, today’s meeting was frank and productive as we discussed the federal help New York desperately needs: additional financial resources, federally-owned land like Floyd Bennett Field, and expedited work authorization for asylum seekers. "I am committed to continuing these efforts until the federal government provides us with the resources and support we are urging them to deliver." More from Albany: — Nursing homes that have violated a new staffing law are not being revealed by state health officials. (LoHud) — Every driver in New York will be automatically enrolled in pricier auto insurance coverage, regardless of whether they will benefit. (Buffalo News) — Education advocates are demanding more transparency from officials as migrant students begin to attend school. (Spectrum News)   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.     THE STATE OF MARIJUANA A fight over who can sell marijuana heads to a Kingston court on Friday. | Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images WHO GETS TO SELL?: A hearing in Kingston on Friday will decide the fates of 463 licensees that qualified for the first dispensary licenses because of a past marijuana conviction — or because they have an immediate family member with a past conviction. The background: New York’s troubled cannabis rollout was hit with yet another legal challenge last week when four service-disabled veterans filed a lawsuit against the priority licensing program. They contend that the state is violating its 2021 legalization law by not releasing dispensary applications for all priority groups — including vets and women — at the same time. On Monday, a judge ordered the state to halt all licensing. Regulators also stopped granting operational approval for licensees with dispensary openings in the pipeline. The latest: On Thursday, a judge ruled that four licensees will be allowed to intervene in the case and testify. The licensees argued they will suffer irreparable harm if the court blocks regulators from moving forward with dispensary openings. “I’m close to a million dollars spent,” Coss Marte, one of the intervenors and brother of City Council member Christopher Marte, said in an interview. “What do I do? … I have to pay rent in October.” If he’s not allowed to open up as planned, “We would likely have to declare bankruptcy,” his affidavit said. What’s next: Licensees are planning a rally in front of the Ulster County courthouse before the judge considers arguments at the 10 a.m. hearing. — Mona Zhang AROUND NEW YORK — Michael Cohen, Trump’s fixer-turned critic, is thinking about challenging Rep. Jerry Nadler in a primary. (Semafor) — NYC's eviction hotspots: Tracking the 10,000 removals since moratorium ended. (Gothamist) — The city of Rochester is in talks with the University of Rochester for a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes plan. (Democrat and Chronicle) — What happens when your pet dies… in New York City? (THE CITY) SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN HAPPY BIRTHDAY: David Rubenstein … NYT’s Charles Blow, David Brooks and Lyndsey Layton … CNN’s Rachel Smolkin … Ilana Drimmer … former USTR Charlene Barshefsky … Liz Landers … Yelena Shuster … Waffa Munayyer … (was Thursday): David Bistricer ... Gill Marcus ... Joseph Allerhand ... Jami Bernard ... Eytan Sosnovich ... Jacob Cohen (h/ts Jewish Insider)  Real Estate —Manhattan real estate is in 'crisis' as new construction flatlines, borough president says. (Business Insider)   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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