| | | | |  | | By Jeff Coltin, Nick Reisman and Emily Ngo | | | With help from Irie Sentner
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CFG Stadium Group, which is trying to build a soccer stadium next to Citi Field, was a top lobbying spender. | Mike Stobe/Getty Images | The team that wants to build a casino next to Citi Field in Queens was New York City’s biggest lobbying spender last year. New Green Willets and Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment shelled out a combined $1.5 million on nine private lobbying firms last year, according to the annual lobbying report from the City Clerk’s office, published late Friday. That’s no surprise — hedge fund billionaire Steve Cohen, who owns the Mets, has been leading a super-visible campaign to boost the bid. And direct city lobbying is only one card in his hand, with campaign contributions, advertising and state lobbying, too. It’s a gamble, but if the casino brings in $1.9 billion a year as projected, it would make back last year’s lobbying fees in just hours. The biggest winners, for now, are firms Fried Frank, Actum and Moonshot. Cohen’s team declined to comment. The top single-city spender was Homeowners for an Affordable New York, a landlord funded coalition opposing a state bill making it harder to evict tenants. Fontas Advisers reported $1.1 million in compensation from the organization, slightly down from the $1.4 million the year before. Broadband company Charter, the Trial Lawyers Association and Madison Square Garden were other big spenders. And there’s a lot of money off the 7 train: CFG Stadium Group, which is trying to build a soccer stadium next to Citi Field, was also a top lobbying spender. Kasirer was the top lobbying firm in the city for the seventh straight year — a dynasty unmatched by even Joe DiMaggio’s Yankees. The firm reported $16.8 million in lobbying fees for the year. Kasirer also has, by far, the most clients and has among the most employees. “It isn’t always easy to consistently notch real results for our clients year over year,” the firm’s founder Suri Kasirer told Playbook. “But I am very proud that is exactly what we’ve done, for over 20.” Bolton-St. Johns came in second, reporting $10.6 million in fees. Pitta Bishop & Del Giorno, Constantinople & Vallone and Capalino — the firm that brought in the most money for the first few years of the de Blasio administration — rounded out the top five. More money was spent influencing the government last year than ever before, with nearly $136 million in reported spending. – Jeff Coltin IT’S MONDAY: Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.
| | | | A message from Amazon: Daniel and Eileen started their houseplant business but struggled to find customers. Amazon’s suite of marketing tools allowed them to find new customers across the country. Amazon provides tools and services to help our small business partners grow, providing logistical support and connecting them with global customers. See the impact. | | | WHERE’S KATHY? In Albany making a public safety announcement, then appearing on MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports.” WHERE’S ERIC? Delivering remarks at the Calcalist Annual Israel-NYC Tech Conference, making a minority-owned business enterprise and affordable housing-related announcement, hosting a roundtable discussion with leaders in the Harlem African American community, then speaking at the Morgan Library and Museum’s Centennial evening benefit. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “‘Well, you know, you dress too fancy. Well, you don’t know how to manage the city. Well, you are always out somewhere.’ Not Eric Adams; that’s what they said about David Dinkins.” — Mayor Eric Adams, speaking at Union Baptist Church about discrimination against Black leaders.
|  | ABOVE THE FOLD | | | 
More than 90 community groups want Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Democratic-led Legislature to include $250 million in funding for implementing the Raise the Age measure. | Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul | RAISE THE AGE FUNDING: Top Democrats in Albany are being urged to strengthen funding for a key juvenile justice law change meant to reduce the number of people under age 18 from being tried as an adult. More than 90 community groups in a letter to be released today want Hochul and the Democratic-led Legislature to include $250 million in funding for the implementation of the measure known as Raise the Age. The organizations, which include the Legal Aid Society, also want to make it easier for New York City to receive funding to implement the law, first approved in 2018. The letter also pushed for the creation of a Youth Justice Innovation Fund, which would use $50 million so that community groups can apply for and receive funding to help implement Raise the Age provisions. Democratic lawmakers have gotten behind the push. “We must streamline the delivery of these already appropriated funds to the community organizations closest to our youth and we must establish a Youth Justice Innovation Fund dedicated to providing resources and programs that genuinely uplift — rather than obstruct — the younger generation,” Brooklyn Democratic Sen. Zellnor Myrie said in a statement to Playbook. State officials are being pressed to make the changes as Democrats in the Senate and Assembly are expected to release their own budget proposals in the coming days. The state budget is due to pass by April 1, the start of the state’s fiscal year. The juvenile justice law changes are multifaceted and cover a range of issues facing 16-and 17-year-olds in criminal cases, including specialized youth courts, intervention programs and housing. But changes to how the criminal justice system treats minors have come under fire from local prosecutors and from Mayor Eric Adams over the law’s consequences. Adams has previously pursued changes to the measure and has argued criminals have taken advantage of it by recruiting younger people to commit crimes. But Democrats and defenders of the law have insisted the law is necessary to prevent young people from languishing in jail for long periods. They argue the law can work, but needs money and resources to be implemented properly. "All data points to the fact that New York's Raise the Age law has been a great success in removing children from the criminal justice system,” Long Island Democratic Assemblymember Michaelle Solages said. “However, young people around our state still need more resources and programming to succeed.” — Nick Reisman
| | CITY HALL: THE LATEST | | | | 
"Stronger than expected tax revenues allow us to restore the blunt cuts that weren't necessary in the first place,” Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Council Member Justin Brannan said in a joint statement. | Emil Cohen/NYC Council Media Unit | FRESH AMMO: An updated tax revenue projection released by the City Council over the weekend will give lawmakers new talking points to push back on the mayor’s unpopular cuts as they begin oversight budget hearings today. The body’s number crunchers predicted $3.3 billion in additional tax revenue between the current fiscal year and the one beginning July 1 when compared to the administration’s latest estimates, according to the analysis released Sunday. That puts the city on track for a $1.32 billion surplus for the current cycle and a $3.53 billion surplus for the next. “This means we can and should be making some different budget decisions, protecting the priorities of New Yorkers," Speaker Adrienne Adams and Council Member Justin Brannan, who chairs the body’s finance committee, said in a joint statement. "From 3K to CUNY, libraries, and our cultural sector, stronger than expected tax revenues allow us to restore the blunt cuts that weren't necessary in the first place.” Citing a tough fiscal outlook, Adams ordered agency heads to trim their budgets by 5 percent in the November update to the city’s spending plan, with most agencies subjected to another round in January. However, leading up to the release of the preliminary budget Jan. 16, Adams began to roll back a handful of the more unpopular service reductions. Once the $109.4 billion spending plan was formally unveiled, municipal bean counters dramatically revised revenue projections upward, bringing them in line with earlier estimations from the council. The mayor has since canceled a third round of cuts slated for April, citing savings in migrant costs. That about-face has given the council an advantage as the two sides of City Hall begin haggling over the final budget due June 30. Not only do lawmakers have reason to be skeptical of the administration’s revenue projections (and confident in their own), they have also watched the administration negotiate against itself by reversing cuts without asking for anything in return. — Joe Anuta CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’: Louis Molina, the city’s former Correction Department commissioner, is trying to become police chief of Oakland, California. Molina still works in the Adams administration as top deputy to Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks. But he pitched himself in a virtual meeting Thursday to a commission helping to pick the Bay Area’s city’s next top cop among four finalists. City Hall didn’t immediately respond when asked if Molina was applying with Adams’ blessing. — Jeff Coltin More from the city: — The Venezuelan migrant who flipped off news cameras was cleared of wrongdoing in the Times Square cop beating after prosecutors concluded he played no role in the attack. (AP) — The vaccination rate of city public and charter school students still hasn’t rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. (New York Post) — The settlement requiring the NYPD to overhaul how it responds to protests went into effect this week, despite the police union’s attempts to delay it. (Gothamist)
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In the coming weeks, state lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul will negotiate a $233 billion budget proposal the governor released in January. | Hans Pennink/AP | WHAT’S A BILLION BETWEEN FRIENDS: New York has more than $1 billion in additional revenue that was initially projected for the coming fiscal year and the next month — a better-than-expected outlook that comes as the tax-and-spend negotiations in Albany are about to take center stage. The Fiscal Policy Institute today will release an analysis of the revenue report that questions whether spending reductions in health care and education are needed given the rosier outlook. "This revenue forecast indicates a stronger fiscal outlook for the State than the Division of Budget's pessimistic projections,” Nathan Gusdorf, the think tank’s director, said. “This additional $1.35 billion should prompt scrutiny of the State's proposed cuts to healthcare and education." State lawmakers and Hochul in the coming weeks will negotiate a $233 billion budget proposal the governor released in January. One of the main points of contention is expected to be her proposal to change how school districts are funded in a move that is expected to lead to $167 million in cuts to more than half of the state’s 673 school districts. Education aid overall is expected to increase by $800 million. Hochul has defended the funding formula change as necessary given enrollment reductions at many districts. The budget is due to pass by April 1. But Hochul on Friday acknowledged it’s likely the negotiations will blow through the deadline given the Easter holiday falling on March 31. — Nick Reisman ASSEMBLY BID: Brooklyn City Council Member Kalman Yeger has his eye on a state Assembly seat and is circulating petitions to get on the ballot, Playbook has learned. Yeger, a centrist Democrat who has run on the Republican line and currently represents Borough Park, Midwood and other neighborhoods, seeks the seat now held by longtime Assemblymember Helene Weinstein, chair of the influential Ways and Means Committee, three people familiar with the situation tell Playbook. Yeger and Weinstein did not return requests for comment on Sunday. — Emily Ngo and Jeff Coltin More from Albany: — Legislators will consider Republican state Sen. Jack Martins’ bill declaring that embryos outside a person’s body are not a human life. (Times Union) — Serious police car crashes have spiked over the last year in New York. (Times Union) — Local governments may not be able to depend on state regulators to oversee cannabis sales. (Spectrum News) — Rural schools in New York are fretting about the impact of funding changes in the state budget. (New York Times)
| | KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION | | | 
Mike Sapraicone is the New York GOP’s pick to challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, but he's facing a three-way primary with the other candidates who say he's not Trumpy enough. | Courtesy of Sapraicone for Congress | YES, AND?: Donald Trump this past weekend gave Republican candidate for Senate Mike Sapraicone his “Complete and Total Endorsement” in a Truth Social post — despite the retired-NYPD-detective-turned-businessman’s past of criticizing the former president and donating to Democrats, including Attorney General Tish James. Sapraicone — the New York GOP’s pick to challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand by an overwhelming margin — is facing a three-way primary with the other candidates and their allies brandishing the receipts backing up their case that he’s not Trump-y enough to represent them. The nod for Sapraicone from the man likely to lead his party’s ticket this November should quiet the critics at least a little bit. Sapraicone in a statement said that the choices on the ballot this fall are “socialism or freedom.” — Emily Ngo KING OF QUEENS: Democrats in Queens are taking a victory lap after Rep. Tom Suozzi’s special election win last month. Democrats will gather for a rally in Forest Hills tonight with an event for “celebrating Queens organizing,” according to an invitation obtained by Playbook. Suozzi, along with Rep. Greg Meeks, the Queens Democratic chair, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, will headline the event. The rally is also being held as Democrats plan to build around Suozzi’s election to the swing House district, which covers parts of Queens and Nassau County. New York has six House districts that are considered to be in play this year that could decide control of the narrowly divided chamber; five seats are represented by freshman Republicans. — Nick Reisman IVF fight: Democrats eager to unseat Long Island Reps. Anthony D’Esposito and Nick LaLota are trying to link them to the Alabama Supreme Court decision that frozen embryos are children under state law, calling the Republicans’ recent efforts at protecting in vitro fertilization disingenuous. Their “empty support for IVF is a desperate attempt” at covering up their records on reproductive freedoms, the DCCC charged, referencing a resolution they backed via Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.). D’Esposito and LaLota — the former more vulnerable in November than the latter — have both stressed they do not support a nationwide abortion ban, even if leaders of their party do. D’Esposito knocked “Democrats’ misleading smear campaign” and said, “IVF treatments are extraordinarily helpful for those who struggle with infertility.” His Democratic challenger, Laura Gillen, at a recent news conference, accused Republicans of hypocrisy, saying, “They want to ban abortion to prevent women from terminating a pregnancy and now they’re targeting IVF, preventing women from getting pregnant.” — Emily Ngo More from the delegation: — Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman have bragged about bringing infrastructure money to their districts — even though they voted against the bill. (New York Post) — Suozzi talks election victory. (POLITICO)
| | NEW YORK STATE OF MIND | | — A federal judge rejected NYU Langone Medical Center’s claims rival Northwell Health ripped off its signature violet hues in advertising materials. (New York Post) — Tech hubs in New York are seeking more than $50 million in federal funds. (Buffalo News) — In New York City, trash has no dedicated space on its own. An in-depth look at the history. (New York Times)
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Learn how Amazon breaks down barriers to growth. | | | | | SOCIAL DATA | | Edited by Daniel Lippman SEEKING ARRANGEMENT: Craig from Craigslist is continuing contributing to local journalism — Craig Newmark Philanthropies will be the lead sponsor of the 2024 Inner Circle Show. “Events like this bring people together for a laugh,” Newmark said in a statement first in Playbook, “while more importantly helping strengthen civic bonds and support for journalism at the most local level.” Newmark has also contributed to local sites The City and Hell Gate, and the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism that now bears his name, among other donations. The Inner Circle Show — the century-old musical satire put on by political reporters past and present — is on April 20, with the dress rehearsal the night before. It raises money for causes including Press Pass NYC, supporting student journalists. MAKING MOVES: Government relations consultant Jennie Frishtick has joined as Alstom SA public affairs manager for the Northeast. … Elvin Garcia is now director of government relations at New York University. He was previously director of New York City affairs at Tonio Burgos & Associates. MEDIAWATCH: David Gura will return to Bloomberg as host of “The Big Take” podcast, joining Saleha and Sarah. He most recently was a correspondent on NPR’s business desk, and is an NBC/MSNBC alum. … HAPPY BIRTHDAY: NBC’s Vaughn Hillyard and Alex Butcher-Nesbitt … Emily Bazelon … POLITICO’s Mark McQuillan … Kate Bennett … Ellen Gilmer of Bloomberg Government … Melvin Backman … Fenton’s Valerie Jean-Charles … (WAS SUNDAY): Elaina Plott … Ron Chernow … Susan Zirinsky … David Yassky ... Brett S. Abraham ... Danielle R. Sassoon … Mary Brunelli … … (WAS SATURDAY): Katie Rosman ... Caitlin McFall … Ashley Chang of the Rockefeller Foundation … Alec Brook-Krasny ... Dave Itzkoff ... Jeffrey Chodorow ... Laraine Newman … (WAS FRIDAY): Joel Wachs ... Lou Gerstner … Marianne Benjamin ... Dave Malkoff ... Hannah Klain … New York City Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers
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