Friday, October 18, 2024

Adams is the butt of Al Smith jokes

Presented by Con Edison: POLITICO's must-read briefing informing the daily conversation among knowledgeable New Yorkers
Oct 18, 2024 View in browser
 
POLITICO Newsletter Header

By Emily Ngo, Jeff Coltin and Nick Reisman

Presented by 

Con Edison

With Timmy Facciola

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during an interview.

“I’ve never met a person who’s a vegan who liked Turkey so much,” former President Donald Trump said of Mayor Eric Adams, who was seated at the dais of dignitaries. | Evan Vucci/AP

NEW YORK MINUTE: Rep. Mike Lawler is set to introduce a sweeping affordable housing plan today, as the swing seat Republican and his party look to address one of the most pressing economic policy concerns of this year's elections.

POLITICO Pro got an early look at the 209-page bill, which Lawler plans to introduce today at an event in Rockland County.

IT’S AWKWARD BUT IT’S FOR CHARITY: The annual Al Smith dinner in Manhattan has traditionally been a bipartisan affair intended to put charities before politics.

And while it featured honored guests of both parties Thursday, the atmosphere was tense.

Not just because former President Donald Trump attended while Vice President Kamala Harris participated via prerecorded remarks, but because Mayor Eric Adams’ indictment was fresh comic fodder.

“I’ve never met a person who’s a vegan who liked Turkey so much,” Trump said of Adams, who was seated at the dais of dignitaries. (It’s not a new joke, but it’s a decent joke.)

The Republican nominee for president has repeatedly said he believes he and the Democratic mayor are simpatico. Thursday was no different.

“I just want to be nice because I know what it’s like to be persecuted by the DOJ for speaking out against open borders,” Trump said, making an unsubstantiated allegation. “We were persecuted, Eric. I was persecuted, and so were you, Eric.”

Adams pleaded not guilty three weeks ago to criminal charges including fraud and bribery. Federal prosecutors say he accepted lavish travel perks, illegal campaign contributions and other benefits from Turkish officials in exchange for hastening approval of the Turkish consulate.

The mayor has welcomed Trump’s support as he maintains his innocence.

Trump poked some fun — but not much — at himself.

“These days, it’s really a pleasure anywhere in New York without a subpoena for my appearance,” the former president said. “They’ve gone after me, Mr. Mayor. You’re peanuts compared to what they’ve done.”

Comedian Jim Gaffigan — who plays Tim Walz on “Saturday Night Live” — as the evening’s MC piled on Adams.

“You can get a mayor for two business-class flights,” he said. Gaffigan also introduced the mayor as “brought to you by Turkish Airlines.”

Meanwhile, Harris’ absence was keenly felt. The Democrat’s choice to skip the event that’s a must-stop for presidential candidates and instead stump in Wisconsin had drawn the ire of host Cardinal Timothy Dolan, already a critic of Democrats.

Trump knocked Harris’ absence as an insult to Catholic Americans.

The vice president in her video commended “the tremendous charitable work of the Catholic Church,” but she left the comedy to actress Molly Shannon, who appeared beside her in costume as a Catholic schoolgirl to reprise her “SNL” role as Mary Katherine Gallagher.

Attendees of the dinner that raises funds for Catholic Charities were a mix of business leaders, media personalities, philanthropists and elected officials including House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Gaffigan expressed disbelief that Harris didn’t attend. He also earned groans from the crowd when he tried to make light of Trump’s spreading of debunked rumors that Haitian migrants in Ohio eat pets.

“This is the second time that grabbing a kitty has been a campaign issue,” the comedian said. — Emily Ngo

HAPPY FRIDAY: Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.

A message from Con Edison:

Con Edison is breaking ground in Queens on the Idlewild Project, a proactive, critical upgrade to New York's electrical grid. As part of Con Edison’s Clean Energy Commitment, this high-impact $1.2 billion investment will continue our grid modernization efforts and meet growing demand for electricity while delivering more clean, reliable energy to homes, businesses, and major transportation hubs. See how Con Edison is helping to build a clean energy future for all New Yorkers.

 

WHERE’S KATHY? Campaigning in western Michigan for the Harris-Walz ticket.

WHERE’S ERIC? Speaking at Movement’s 15th annual Movement Day, breaks ground on renovations for the Queens Public Library’s Hollis Branch, giving remarks at the Latin American Council of Pentecostal Church of God’s 70th International General Assembly, hosting an ethnic media engagement with NY Hispano and marking Diwali at Times Square’s Award and Gala Dinner.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The difference is there are employees at-will, and then those are individuals in their position because of the will of the voters.” — Hochul, via WNYC’s Jon Campbell, on why she pushed Adams to fire aides under investigation, but doesn’t think he should resign under indictment.

ABOVE THE FOLD

Carl Heastie is pictured.

New York Focus first reported that the Bronx Democratic Party hadn’t reported getting more than $400,000 in donations from Speaker Carl Heastie’s Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee. | Mike Groll/AP

BRONX CHEER: The Bronx Democratic Party has filed and amended more than a dozen campaign finance reports in the last week to reflect hundreds of thousands of dollars in previously unreported contributions and expenses, including donations from both the Yankees and a pharmaceutical lobbying group.

Since Oct. 10, party beancounters filed seven required reports for the first time, and amended seven others, according to the State Board of Elections.

The flurry of activity was in response to a New York Focus story that the party hadn’t reported getting more than $400,000 in donations from Speaker Carl Heastie’s Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee.

“It was inaccurate record keeping. There were administrative issues. And we rectified it,” Bronx Dems leader Jamaal Bailey, a state senator, told Playbook. “Going forward, we will continue to be mindful to ensure that records are updated and compiled in a proper manner.”

The new reports show DACC as the party’s main funding source. The party then spends on expenses like campaign mailers, consultant payments and Uber rides and dinners.

But the party failed at basic financial transparency for years. Newly amended reports show it initially did not report major contributions in 2023, like a $25,000 gift from the Yankees and a $10,000 gift from pharmaceutical industry group PhRMA.

Mets owner Steve Cohen, who is trying to build support for a casino bid, also gave the party $15,000 in June. That should have been divulged at the semi-annual filing due in July, but the party didn’t file until Oct. 15.

It’s unlikely the party will face penalties. Late filing is common, and enforcement from the Board of Elections is severely lacking. Committees that do get investigated typically are not fined if they go ahead and file, even years late.

“There’s nothing nefarious,” Bailey said. “We’re not stealing, we’re not embezzling money, we’re not spending on bullshit. It’s for party building, and the record reflects such.” — Jeff Coltin

CITY HALL: THE LATEST

Tiffany Cabán responds to questions. during a news interview in New York.

City Council member Tiffany Cabán coordinating with Comptroller Brad Lander is a notable show of early support in the mayoral race. | Frank Franklin II/AP Photo

GETTING THE W: New York Liberty superfan and City Council member Tiffany Cabán hosted a joint fundraiser with mayoral candidate Brad Lander Wednesday night to watch the WNBA team win game three of the finals with a Sabrina Ionescu buzzer-beater from the logo.

Cabán coordinating with Lander is a notable show of early support in the mayoral race, especially given fellow Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani’s plan to jump in. Fellow Liberty fan Zellnor Myrie is running. Fellow Queens progressive Jessica Ramos is in it too, though she and Cabán aren’t close.

“Brad is my usual Liberty Loyal watch buddy,” Cabán explained to Playbook. But don’t call it an endorsement yet, she cautioned. “As for politics, formally I am only supporting the Liberty thus far.”

Brooklyn’s best basketball team is hoping to clinch the championship — and Adams’ promise of a ticker-tape parade — tonight against the Minnesota Lynx. — Jeff Coltin

MARJ AT-LARGE: Former City Council Member Marjorie Velázquez is stepping down from her role as vice president of policy at Tech:NYC (they’re hiring, by the way) with an eye toward getting back into politics.

The Democrat lost reelection in her East Bronx district to Republican Kristy Marmorato last year. The seat is up again in 2025.

“This was a difficult decision, as I’ve had the privilege of working with an incredible team and contributing to the growth of the tech industry in New York City, and I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve accomplished,” Velázquez said in a statement. “Now I’m excited to get back to my roots working for the people of the Bronx and all of NYC, including continuing the work of making sure all communities are lifted up by tech’s growth here.”   Jeff Coltin

More from the city:

Tech firm SaferWatch reached a deal with Adams’ City Hall but only got paid eight months later, days after the company hired Terence Banks, the brother of two top administration officials. (Daily News)

New York City school officials had the legal right to place unvaccinated teachers on unpaid leave during the pandemic, the state’s top court ruled. (POLITICO Pro)

Lander is calling on the Taxi and Limousine Commission to release data on driver “lockouts” to find potential wage manipulation by rideshare companies like Uber. (Documented)

 

A message from Con Edison:

Advertisement Image

 
NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY

Governor Hochul celebrated the creation of about 71,000 new apartments in New York City Thursday

Gov. Kathy Hochul has struggled with her job approval and favorability ratings in public polling for much of the year. | Don Pollard/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul

HOCHUL TO MICHIGAN: Hochul is in the swing state of Michigan today with battleground Democratic Govs. Gretchen Whitmer, Tony Evers of Wisconsin and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania to boost Vice President Kamala Harris’ White House bid.

This is Hochul’s latest foray into a crucial state for the Harris-Walz ticket — she previously traveled to Pennsylvania for a rally.

The visit is part of the “Blue Wave Bus Tour” the governors are participating in to support Harris in the airtight presidential race.

Hochul has been a reliable surrogate for Harris, appearing at the Democratic National Convention and rallies and on cable news on behalf of the presidential ticket.

It’s a job that dovetails with her push for Democrats to flip five House seats in New York in order to win back control of the closely divided chamber.

But Hochul has struggled with her job approval and favorability ratings in public polling for much of the year. One found her less popular than Trump in the Democratic stronghold of New York.

She has also batted away criticism from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who blamed the governor for running a poor campaign in 2022 and losing House seats as a result.

The Michigan visit coincides with Hochul has strenuously denied an interest in joining a potential Harris administration. The governor shot down a report by NOTUS that her representatives reached out to Harris about a job in Washington.

Hochul blamed “bad actors” for spreading the claim she would resign before running for reelection in 2026.

“People are trying to create the notion that I’m not running for reelection and I’m running for reelection,” she said. “There’s a lot of people in that category.”

With Hochul traveling to the Great Lakes State, her No. 2 is heading to Pennsylvania to stump for Harris-Walz.

Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado will be in Pittsburgh today with fellow lieutenant governors and mayors alongside Black community leaders, according to his campaign. — Nick Reisman

DEBATE ME: Republican Westchester County district attorney candidate John Sarcone has not been getting much traction for a debate with his Democratic opponent, Judge Susan Cacace.

So instead, he’s willing to settle for a debate with Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

Sarcone believes Stewart-Cousins has agreed to a debate over the state law limiting circumstances when cash bail is required — a measure that has drawn political backlash for Democrats.

He has seized on a brief interaction with the Yonkers Democrat when they had a short back-and-forth over the issue at a public event earlier this month.

“I will debate anyone anywhere at any time on the revolving door of crime that New York State Democrats have created,” Sarcone said in a statement.

The idea that Stewart-Cousins is willing to debate Sarcone, however, is an overstatement.

Mike Murphy, a spokesperson for the Senate Democrats, denied any debate has been informally agreed to by the legislative leader.

“Mr. Sarcone was misrepresenting the truth at this forum,” he said. “The senator offered to clear up these misrepresentations at the time. Truth matters.”

Cacace’s campaign did not return a message seeking comment. — Nick Reisman

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Meta, the company that owns Facebook, is pouring more money into efforts to influence the SAFE Act, the first in the nation social media measure signed by Hochul in June that regulates how children are exposed to social media’s addictive algorithms.

The company is paying PR firm Bluejacket Strategies around $7,600 a month to run a campaign geared at persuading Attorney General Tish James to include a measure that requires app stores to receive parental approval before teens under 16 can download applications into the law.

“Meta is advocating for regulatory solutions that support teens and empower parents, including rules that require app stores to get parental approval for teens under 16 to download apps,” Jamie Radice, a spokesperson for the social media company, told Playbook.

While the act, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Nily Rozic, focuses on algorithms, not app stores, the company is hoping James can incorporate the change during the rulemaking process.

Even though the law was championed by the governor and Gounardes, it’s still unclear how effective the measure will be at protecting youth from algorithms. James, who played a key role in advocating for the legislation, is tasked with determining how strongly, and through what means, the law will be enforced — a process that is ongoing. — Jason Beeferman

More from Albany:

Outmigration from New York has slowed in the last year. (Newsday)

Asian American parents are concerned the pending Equal Rights Amendment could lead to discrimination. (New York Post)

I-787, Albany’s version of the Beltway, could be in for major changes. (Times Union)

KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries campaigns in Hempstead Village in Nassau County for Democrat Laura Gillen on Oct. 17, 2024.

“This is the most Democratic district in the country held by a Republican,” Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries reminded an amped-up crowd. | Emily Ngo/POLITICO

DEM LEADERS STUMP ON LI: Congressional challenger Laura Gillen hosted two House Democratic leaders at two separate events Thursday in the Long Island district crucial to their party’s path to the speakership.

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries rallied a predominantly Black crowd of voters in the Village of Hempstead, many of them eager to cast their ballots for Kamala Harris as well as local Democrats. Gillen is seeking to unseat GOP Rep. Anthony D’Esposito.

“This is the most Democratic district in the country held by a Republican,” Jeffries reminded the amped-up crowd as he and other speakers including state and Nassau County Dem chair Jay Jacobs stressed the importance of getting out the vote.

Earlier Thursday, Minority Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts held a roundtable in Freeport with Gillen on reproductive rights, an issue Democrats are using with increasing intensity against Republicans, including in recent debates, as Playbook has reported.

Clark will be in Utica this morning to campaign with John Mannion, the Democrat challenging Rep. Brandon Williams in a closely watched central New York race. — Emily Ngo

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

Trump visited Knockout Barber Shop in the Bronx, spending about an hour for a private meet-and-greet as he tries to build support among men of color. (News 12)

Schumer balances ‘workhorse’ and ‘show horse’ roles as Senate majority leader. (NY1)

Nearly $17 million in casino money will be heading to three cities in western New York. (Spectrum News)

A message from Con Edison:

Critical electrical grid upgrades are right around the corner in Queens. Con Edison’s Idlewild Project will support New York’s crucial efforts to mitigate climate change by creating two new substations and a new Springfield Electric network. This new infrastructure will deliver more clean, reliable energy to homes, businesses, and major transportation hubs, including JFK International Airport and the MTA’s bus fleet. It will also accelerate electrification and facilitate cleaner air for local residents. See how Con Edison is building a future where every New Yorker can share in the benefits of a safe, reliable, climate-resilient grid.

 
SOCIAL DATA

Edited by Daniel Lippman

MAKING MOVES: Actum has hired HZQ Consulting partner and managing director Ryan Adams as a senior vice president and HZQ creative director Kayleigh Smith as a director… Whiteman Osterman & Hanna has hired John M. Czajka as partner and John F. Wirenius has joined as of counsel.

MEDIAWATCH: WNYC/Gothamist NYPD and public safety reporter Bahar Ostadan is joining Newsday to cover Nassau County politics.

OUT & ABOUT: Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club President Allen Roskoff hosted a private showing Thursday night of the 2023 documentary “Bella!” — about pioneering former Rep. Bella Abzug, who Roskoff campaigned for back in 1970. Rep. Jerry Nadler spoke on a panel afterward and was asked to compare Anzug to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Both “came in very strong,” Nadler said, but “AOC has become establishmentarian, which Abzug never did.”

SPOTTED: State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Assemblymembers Alex Bores and Tony Simone, City Council Members Erik Bottcher and Chris MarteMark Green Cora WeissKathleen Chalfant Frank Seddio Rob GottheimJenny Lam LowAnne Strahle Billy Freeland.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Attorney General Tish James … state Sen. James Skoufis … Columbia COO Cas Holloway … NYT’s Annie Karni … City & State’s Ralph Ortega … Alstom’s Jennie Frishtick … ACS’s Barbara Turk … H+C Consulting’s Walter Chi … Puck’s Julia Ioffe … Brunswick Group’s Michael Krempasky … Bloomberg’s Matt Shirley … Edelman’s Trisch SmithJonathan Tasini … CNN’s Andrew Millman Amanda Zheutlin Alexander E. MiehlsKiki Francesca ReginatoAustin Schindel

Missed Thursday’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

Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram Listen on Apple Podcast
 

To change your alert settings, please log in at https://login.politico.com/?redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com/settings

This email was sent to edwardlorilla1986.paxforex@blogger.com by: POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA

Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service

No comments:

Post a Comment

Buy and Hold This Dividend Stock Forever…

Buy and Hold This Dividend Stock Forever... and Leave It for Your Grandchildren Escape the disappoin...