| | | | |  | | By Emily Ngo, Nick Reisman and Jeff Coltin | Presented by Soloviev Group | With help from Irie Sentner
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Mayor Eric Adams’ third State of the City address comes as he juggles a federal investigation into his campaign, flagging job approval numbers and a migrant crisis. | Peter K. Afriyie/AP | A generations-old housing crisis will grip New York City for the foreseeable future. But chipping away at parts of it is a start, especially with the city limited in what it can do without the state. Mayor Eric Adams’ State of the City address today in the Bronx will include proposals to help keep New Yorkers in their homes, Playbook reports exclusively. He will announce the creation of a so-called Tenant Protection Cabinet, which would ensure access to the same information and resources regardless of which hotline or agency the tenants first contacted for help. The cabinet would, among other focuses, guide tenants on illegal lockouts and landlords trying to push them out. In his remarks at Hostos Community College, Adams will also spotlight the expansion of the Homeowner Help Desk, which would reach about 160,000 New Yorkers and offer one-on-one aid in part to protect against deed theft, scams and other challenges. “In laying out our future-focused vision for working-class New Yorkers, our administration is doubling down on our efforts to elevate the voices of tenants and homeowners in the housing conversation to ensure they’re getting the resources and advocacy they need,” the mayor said in a statement to Playbook. Adams’ third State of the City address, halfway through his term, will feature a list of his achievements, including reduced crime rates and job growth. But it comes as he is besieged by a federal investigation into his campaign, flagging job approval numbers and a migrant crisis with more than 67,000 newcomers in the city’s care. With his political capital in short supply, Adams is grappling with how to work with state leaders to enact the city’s agenda. Key Albany elected officials will not be in attendance today. Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie plan to remain in the Capitol, though the governor will send representatives to the speech. Top elected leaders from the city, including ones at odds with Adams over migrants and policing, will be present. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Comptroller Brad Lander and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams plan to be in the audience at Hostos. And outside the college will be protesters who have coalesced in opposition to Adams’ budget cuts and vetoes of bills requiring police to document lower-level stops and banning solitary confinement in city jails. “It’s a combination of solidarity behind both City Council bills and a statement to the mayor that he has misaligned priorities between caring for communities versus criminalizing them,” the coalition Freedom Agenda’s John Proctor said. — Emily Ngo IT’S WEDNESDAY: Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.
| | | | A message from Soloviev Group: Optimally located on Manhattan’s east side, Freedom Plaza by Soloviev will emerge as an entertainment district with a first-class hotel, a casino by Mohegan, and the world’s first Democracy Museum. From improving overall quality of life by creating sustainable public green spaces to new affordable housing in a post-pandemic NYC suffering from a housing crisis, we envision innovative components that will introduce economic and social benefits to our East Side neighborhoods and New York City. | | | WHERE’S KATHY? Giving remarks at Planned Parenthood’s Empire State Acts’ 2024 Day of Action in Albany. WHERE’S ERIC? Delivering his third State of the City address. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Unsurprising that the Mayor doesn’t want to shine light on what the bill actually does.” — Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, referencing how the mayor’s office declined to use lights and sought to remove chairs for a City Council news conference supporting the How Many Stops Act.
|  | ABOVE THE FOLD | | | | 
State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Charles Lavine introduced legislation that would allow federal, state and local court officials to keep their addresses confidential. | Hans Pennink/AP | ORDER FOR THE COURT: New York may soon provide an added layer of security for judges and court personnel as concerns over safety and threats of violence have grown in recent years. Hochul has embraced a proposal from Assemblymember Charles Lavine and state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal that would allow federal, state and local court officials to enroll in an address confidentiality program. Lavine also wants to bar both public and private entities from sharing or posting the personally identifiable information of court personnel. The governor included a version of the proposal in her $233 billion budget plan, though the measure itself does not have any fiscal implications. “I spent literally the equivalent of a lifetime in the courts. In effect, I grew up in the state court system, the federal court system,” Lavine, a Long Island Democrat and attorney, told Playbook in an interview. “For anyone who has lived in those courts, it is patently obvious that the threat level for court personnel, judges, prosecutors has risen to epidemic levels.” Lavine first considered how to better protect court personnel and their families after the son of a federal judge was shot and killed in New Jersey. Congressional lawmakers approved similar legislation to shield addresses in 2022. But Lavine said the concerns over court personnel security have only grown. “I am far past alarmed. This is terrifying,” he said. “It’s anarchy. And as if this attitude of anger toward judges and officials isn’t sufficiently threatening in and of itself. The fact that guns are so easily available in the US makes for a very combustible crisis.” — Nick Reisman
| | CITY HALL: THE LATEST | | | | 
“Citizen Weiner,” a “pseudo-documentary" about Zack Weiner, debuted Sunday at Slamdance in Park City, Utah. | Provided by Zack Weiner | NO, THE OTHER WEINER: Remember the City Council candidate who leaked his own S&M tape? Well, Zack Weiner was doing it all for a bit, and a movie about his bizarre campaign against Gale Brewer is finally coming out. Weiner is an Upper West Side actor and filmmaker who decided to run for council. The resulting film “Citizen Weiner” is a “pseudo-documentary,” director Daniel Robbins told Playbook, or a “reality movie” in the style of reality TV. (In fact, an interview with this reporter is included in the film.) Weiner really did run, earning a distant sixth place in the 2021 primary, but that sex tape got massive media attention, including mentions from Stephen Colbert and Fox News, a preview clip shows. The movie debuted Sunday in Utah at Slamdance, the edgier cousin of the Sundance Film Festival. Producers are in talks with distributors now for a wider release, but there aren’t any New York showings scheduled yet. And for those who remember the 2016 documentary “Weiner” about Anthony Weiner’s mayoral run — no relation, but it’s kind of weird this has happened twice. — Jeff Coltin More from the city: — Migrants spotted sleeping outside should be counted as part of the city’s annual street homelessness census, but it may not result in more funding. (Daily News) — Informal and volunteer-run shelters are serving more migrants as securing a city-run shelter bed has become more difficult. (The City) — The Hotel Association of New York City got a new emergency $76.7 million contract to provide “last resort” shelter to migrant families. (New York Post)
| | | | A message from Soloviev Group:   | | | | | NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY | | |  Assemblymember Karines Reyes and Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal are set to roll out new regulations for the rapidly evolving use of AI. | New York State Assembly/POLITICO Screenshot | AI AND MODELS: Fashion industry workers in New York want state labor protections for the use of artificial intelligence as the new technology could change how their images are used and reproduced. The Model Alliance, a coalition that is backing a broader measure meant to provide protections for fashion workers, is supporting new regulations for the rapidly evolving use of AI. The new proposals are set to be rolled out later today. The provisions, which will be added to the fashion worker labor bill backed by Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Karines Reyes, are the latest example of how lawmakers are grappling with the use of AI and its impact on workers. Protections include requiring management companies and brands to obtain written consent for the use or creation of a model’s digital replica and have companies detail the scope, purpose and rate of pay as well as duration of use for a digital replica. Companies would also be required to obtain written approval from models before changing or manipulating a model’s digital replica using artificial intelligence. There would also be power of attorney agreements required for any management company and model to exclude the use of a digital replica. — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — The first increase in short-term disability benefits since 1989 could be part of a final state budget. (Times Union) — Some New York farms have cut hours for their workers after overtime changes were enacted. (Spectrum News) — Access to opioid treatments like methadone is getting harder in New York. (NYS Focus)
| | KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION | | | 
A new mailer from the New York GOP claims Republican nominee Mazi Melesa Pilip “stopped” Mayor Eric Adams and his ally Tom Suozzi “from sending unvetted migrants to Nassau County.” | Jeff Coltin/POLITICO | ERIC LOVES TOM: The New York GOP is tying the unpopular Adams to his ally Tom Suozzi in a new mailer. “Thanks to Eric Adams & Tom Suozzi, 150,000 illegal immigrants have come to New York and received taxpayer-funded housing, meals, health care and other benefits,” says the mailer, featuring shadowy photos of the two Democrats. The mailer claims Republican nominee Mazi Melesa Pilip “stopped” Adams and Suozzi “from sending unvetted migrants to Nassau County.” Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has refused to shelter migrants, and a campaign spokesperson said the county legislator partnered with him on that. Republicans' ads are largely focusing on the backlash to the wave of immigration. Suozzi endorsed Adams for mayor, and Adams once said he wanted the former Congress member as a deputy mayor. “I love Tom,” Adams said Tuesday when asked if he was planning to campaign with him ahead of the Feb. 13 special election. “Whatever I can do to assist him, I’m more than willing to do so.” Adams is a big name, but he’s not particularly popular in northeastern Queens and Long Island. Representatives for both told Playbook there weren’t any plans for Adams to politic in the district. — Jeff Coltin MORE LABOR NODS FOR MANNION: Democratic House candidate John Mannion later today will roll out another round of labor endorsements, his campaign told Playbook. Mannion will be endorsed by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, the American Federation of Government Employees, Carpenters Local 277, and UNITEHERE Local 15. The endorsements bring Mannion’s labor support to 19 unions. Mannion, a state senator, is running to unseat Republican Rep. Brandon Williams in a battleground Central New York district. “These labor unions represent thousands of families across NY-22,” he said. “At a time when the labor movement is under attack, their support will make the difference in this election.” — Nick Reisman WILLIAMS FOR TRUMP: Meanwhile, Williams, a Republican representing a district Joe Biden won in 2020, all but endorsed Donald Trump for 2024 last night. “President Trump will be the Republican nominee for president,” Williams posted on X as New Hampshire primary results came in, adding, “We can’t endure 4 more years of Progressive fantasies, we need a Republican in the White House.” The Syracuse-area representative is the second of the “vulnerable” House Republicans in the state to back Trump this cycle. Long Island Rep. Nick LaLota endorsed Trump on Sunday, posting, “President Trump’s policies made our nation stronger and had us on track to prosperity.” — Emily Ngo
| | NEW YORK STATE OF MIND | | — Pilip listed assets on her county financial disclosure that were not included in her filings as a federal candidate. (Newsday) — Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said cybercrime on payment apps like Zelle and Venmo has gotten so out of hand that he sent a letter to the popular apps demanding they implement more security measures. (CNN) — Albany regulators are poised to adopt regulations allowing New Yorkers over 21 years of age to legally cultivate their own marijuana plants. (Times Union)
| | | | A message from Soloviev Group: Each year, 2% of net profits generated from the proposed gaming component of Freedom Plaza will be directly reinvested into the community through a contribution to a 501(c)3 that is registered to and solely operated by the community. The guiding mission of this project is a commitment to finding out what our neighbors need, listening to concerns, and encouraging our community to consider the many benefits a truly collaborative plan can deliver. Our goal is a win-win development that enhances the community and contributes positively to the economic and cultural life of New York City. | | | | | SOCIAL DATA | | Edited by Daniel Lippman MAKING MOVES: Barton Gellman is now a senior adviser at the Brennan Center for Justice, where he will work with the organization’s experts to respond to the threats of abuse of power and the assault on democratic institutions that may follow the presidential election. He was previously a staff writer at The Atlantic and is the author of “Angler” and “Dark Mirror.” … Steve Louis, a longtime New York City Law Department attorney, joins the Center for New York City Law at New York Law School, which is expanding its state and city policymaking programming. WELCOME TO THE WORLD -- Julianna Tatelbaum, an anchor for CNBC International, and Anurag Aggarwal, partner at Nekton Capital, on New Year’s Eve welcomed Amaya Tatelbaum Aggarwal. Pic ... Another pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: WSJ’s Gerry Baker … NOTUS’ Byron Tau … Edelman’s Melanie Trottman ... former Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.) … former OMB Director Shaun Donovan … (WAS TUESDAY): Ray McGuire ... Bruce Ratner ... Danielle Montalbano ... James L. Nederlander ... John Heilemann … Andrew Palombaro … James Amen … Andrew Green
| | YOUR NEW YORK NUMBER OF THE DAY | | | | 9,394 The estimated population of Edgemont, a wealthy section of the Westchester County town of Greenburgh that was specifically exempted from a new law making it harder to form a new village, New York Focus reported. | | | | | | 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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