Why is Trump campaigning on Long Island?

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Sep 18, 2024 View in browser   By Emily Ngo, Nick Reisman and Jeff Coltin Presented by  Though Long Island doesn’t pave the path to the White House, it is crucial to determining who controls the House next year. | Alex Brandon/AP Former President Donald Trump complained during his Manhattan hush money trial that being stuck in New York prevented him from campaigning in swing states. But, today, he’s opting to forgo those battlegrounds to rally in the blue state he has virtually no chance of winning. The Republican nominee for president is heading to Nassau County, a GOP stronghold that has helped this heavily Democratic state become more competitive for his party. And though Long Island doesn’t pave the path to the White House, it is crucial to determining who controls the House next year. “It does benefit him, because as president, he’s going to need a majority in the House, and those seats that we’re defending on Long Island and around New York are key to that majority,” said Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, who faces Democrat Laura Gillen and is one of five New York GOP freshmen facing tough reelection fights. The DNC is counterprogramming the rally with a digital ad campaign and mobile billboard that will circle the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale and attack Trump and the GOP for threatening access to IVF, Playbook has learned. And 1199 SEIU health care workers will join Long Island residents at the venue to support Haitian community members hurt by Trump and JD Vance’s baseless — but still circulating — claim that migrants in Springfield, Ohio, are eating their pets. More than 60,000 Trump supporters have sought tickets. The rally was originally scheduled to coincide with the former president’s criminal sentencing date in Manhattan, and the campaign kept it in place even after the sentencing was postponed, a person familiar with the planning told Playbook. Trump’s team coordinated the use of the coliseum with Las Vegas Sands, which wants to turn the venue into a casino and is owned by Trump megadonor Miriam Adelson, another person told Playbook. Trump is visiting at the invitation of Nassau County GOP chair Joe Cairo and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a supporter of the casino development who told Playbook the rally is six months in the making. “He’s got a message for all of his suburbs about American values, and Nassau County’s the first suburb in America,” Blakeman said. “And it’s an apropos place to talk about the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Detroit, Phoenix and Atlanta, just to name a few.” Democratic leaders welcomed Trump’s visit to a blue state — as a political misstep for him. “I’d love to have him here, because anytime he’s in Nassau County, he’s not in Pennsylvania, he’s not in Wisconsin and Michigan, he’s not in Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, North Carolina,” New York State and Nassau County Democratic chair Jay Jacobs told Playbook. “So he can stay here. I think it’s a real good use of his time.” — Emily Ngo IT’S WEDNESDAY. Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.   A message from Uber: New York City Uber riders pay $700 Million in taxes and fees annually* That’s more than the entire budget for New York City Parks Department. *Based on trips originating from NYC in 2023. Learn more.   WHERE’S KATHY? In New York City doing a political interview on The Laura Coates Show. WHERE’S ERIC? Making a public safety-related announcement in Queens, attending the WorkWell NYC block party, participating in Fans for the Cure’s “30 Catches in 30 Days” campaign and appearing live on NBC 4’s 6 p.m. newscast. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I think the Post is the blue collar paper, you know? And I think that they have a moderate, pragmatic approach. They're not so idealistic.” — Mayor Eric Adams, on the New York Post, adding that he doesn’t agree with the paper on everything after the editorial board called on him to fire embattled aides Phil Banks and Tim Pearson. ABOVE THE FOLD “Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans are responsible for the SALT deduction cap that is hurting New York families,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement to Playbook. | Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images FEELING SALTY: Trump wants to repeal the $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions — a provision tucked into the 2017 tax law he signed. Trump signaled his plan to do so ahead of his Long Island rally in a post on Truth Social, pledging to “get SALT back and lower your taxes.” Known as the SALT cap, the limit on deductions hit high-tax blue states — especially homeowners in suburban areas like Long Island. It’s also been a major plank in the platforms for New York House candidates in both parties with a half-dozen seats considered to be in play. New York Democrats, however, are skeptical Trump will keep his word. “Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans are responsible for the SALT deduction cap that is hurting New York families,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement to Playbook. “Their policies have done nothing but take money out of the pockets of hardworking New Yorkers — don’t fall for more of Trump’s lies.” It also could be a difficult cap to lift even with Trump’s blessing. Bipartisan efforts over the last seven years have been stymied by opponents who perceive the coveted changes as a tax break for wealthy people. — Nick Reisman CITY HALL: THE LATEST “The investigation will take its course. It would be inappropriate for me to talk about an investigation," Mayor Eric Adams told Playbook. | Emily Ngo/POLITICO OFF TARGET: Adams declined to say whether he was still “not a target” of any federal investigation, or elaborate on whether he had been deemed a “subject” or a “witness.” Playbook asked Adams at his weekly presser Tuesday, following our report that the popular defense around City Hall is relatively meaningless. “I’m not going to have a (weekly) advisory of what I’m classified in,” he said. “The investigation will take its course. It would be inappropriate for me to talk about an investigation.” Should we interpret that to mean that something has changed, Adams was asked. “You should interpret it any way you want,” he shot back. “I said I’m not going to keep having daily updates over and over and over again. Do you know how many times we’ve been asked that question? So I’m not going to keep doing that.” — Jeff Coltin CONNECTING DOTS: Federal prosecutors used the two FDNY chief’s omissions on annual disclosure forms filed with the city’s Conflict of Interest Board to stand up conspiracy charges against them — a similar omission to one POLITICO first reported in September about Adams’ special adviser Winnie Greco filing a curiously empty financial disclosure form. THE CITY dug deeper Tuesday, reporting that Greco also reported not a single dollar of income or any investments in 2021 before Adams hired her to work in City Hall. Greco remains in city employment, seven months after federal investigators raided her homes. She hasn’t been accused of any wrongdoing. Still, The New York Times reported that Adams’ chief counsel wanted him to remove Greco, plus all five officials whose phones were seized this month — but his trademark loyalty won out, and she resigned instead. — Jeff Coltin More from the city: — Adams praised NYPD officers for showing “a great level of restraint” despite injuring four people by shooting while going after an alleged fare evader on a crowded subway platform. (Gothamist) — State Sen. Zellnor Myrie — a mayoral candidate — and other Brooklyn pols say their demand for an immediate response to the shooting at the West Indian Day Parade has been ignored by Adams and Hochul. (Daily News) — The council’s ethics committee has initiated proceedings against Council member Susan Zhuang, who is facing separate criminal charges for allegedly biting a police officer during a protest. (Gothamist)   A message from Uber:   NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY Robert Caro's “The Power Broker" remains a conversation starter. | Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for East Hampton Library ULTIMATE POWER: It’s been a half-century since the release of “The Power Broker,” Robert Caro’s exhaustive and exhausting chronicle of Robert Moses’ impact on New York. The book remains a conversation starter. NY1’s political anchor Errol Louis is releasing a special episode of his podcast “You Decide” today that includes an interview with documentary filmmaker Lizzie Gottlieb, the daughter of Caro editor Robert Gottlieb as well as Columbia University history professor Kenneth T. Jackson. And the younger Gottlieb acknowledged the power of the tomb 50 years later. “‘The Power Broker’ is a man magnet,” she said in the podcast. “You pull that book out on the subway and men throw themselves at you.” — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — State officials are trying to make government jobs easier to apply for amid shortfalls in agencies across the public sector. (Times Union) — New York Republicans want their voters to cast ballots early and erase a Democratic advantage. (POLITICO) — A bill heading to Hochul’s desk would require gun store owners to publicize the risk of owning a firearm. (NY State of Politics) KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION — Trump and Vance’s pet-eating claims pose a dilemma for endangered House Republicans Reps. Marc Molinaro and Mike Lawler. (POLITICO) — Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is making moves to be the next leader of the Senate Democratic campaign arm following the November elections. (Axios) NEW YORK STATE OF MIND — Crime is down in the state, but New Yorkers don’t feel safer. (Newsday) — Buffalo, once struggling, is now considered one of the most successful cities in the Rust Belt. (Buffalo News)   A message from Uber: Ever thought about what it’s like to drive for Uber in New York? Uber Drivers earn $32 per hour.* And that’s before incentives and tips They also get benefits including dental insurance, vision coverage, mental health support, and workers’ compensation through the Black Car Fund and Driver Benefits Fund. *Average earnings per online hour from January - July 2024 based on trips originating from NYC Learn more.   SOCIAL DATA Edited by Daniel Lippman MAKING MOVES: Adams tapped Dynishal Gross as New York City Small Businesses Services commissioner. She’s a longtime SBS executive and was previously acting commissioner. OUT & ABOUT: Consultant and Big Tech Fixer Bradley Tusk hosted a party at his Soho loft for his latest book, “Vote With Your Phone: Why Mobile Voting is Our Final Shot at Saving Democracy.” Tusk’s New York Chief Chris Coffey emceed and both Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar and West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner spoke before Tusk shared his theory that mobile voting will increase participation which will decrease the influence of political extremists. SPOTTED: Former SDNY Chief Preet Bharara … state Sen. Zellnor Myrie … presumptive Assemblymember Micah Lasher … NYLS’s Ben Max … NYU’s Elvin Garcia … Fordham and FAQ NYC’s Christina Greer… Fellow Bloomberg alums Stu Loeser and Howard Wolfson … CNN’s Alisyn Camerota … Fox Business’ Liz Claman … writer Molly Jong-Fast … WIN’s Christine Quinn … Gareth Rhodes and Tusk’s Shontell Smith, Eric Soufer, Jake Sporn and Alex Sommer. 2 OUT 2 ABOUT: JFREJ, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, hosted its annual fundraiser/awards show The Mazals Tuesday night at 9 Bob Note in East Williamsburg. Honorees included NYIC’s Murad Awawdeh, former Manhattan BP Ruth Messinger, Afrikana’s Adama Bah and Rabbis for Cease-fire. (X pics) SPOTTED: State Sen. Julia Salazar … Assemblymembers Zohran Mamdani, Jessica González-Rojas and Harvey Epstein and presumptive AM Claire Valdez… Council members Tiffany Cabán and Shahana Hanif … Linda Sarsour. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Maggie Moran … Dennis Futoryan. Missed Tuesday’s New York Playbook PM? We forgive you. Read it here.   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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