‘Cuomo would not be any better’

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Jan 10, 2025 View in browser   By Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman Presented by  Mayoral candidate Brad Lander is seizing on Andrew Cuomo's potential campaign. | Courtesy of Lander 2025 Brad Lander isn’t just running for mayor to unseat Eric Adams — but also to keep former Gov. Andrew Cuomo out of office. “Make no mistake, Andrew Cuomo would not be any better,” than Adams, the city comptroller said at a campaign fundraiser Wednesday night, in remarks his campaign shared with Playbook. “Now he’s actually suing to eliminate the state ethics agency. That is not the leadership we need for New York City.” As Lander spoke onstage in Brooklyn, rumors flew around the political classes that Cuomo was poised to announce a mayoral run. Longtime Cuomo ally Charlie King is working to set up his campaign, POLITICO first reported. The ex-governor getting in the race could even move Public Advocate Jumaane Williams to reconsider his decision not to run in the Democratic primary. “I would consider doing whatever is needed to do to prevent a Cuomo mayoralty,” Williams told Playbook. Asked if that included running for office himself, he brushed it off, saying “I don’t know about that” — but he kept the door open. “There would have to be a real sit down with a lot of folks to see what people think is the best way to prevent him from becoming mayor.” Williams has previously said he isn’t running in the primary. But he would consider running for the office if he were already serving as acting mayor in the event Adams is pushed out of office in the next few months — an increasingly unlikely scenario. For now, Williams is supporting Lander, a longtime ally who he introduced on stage at the fundraiser as “my partner in safety.” With six months to go until the June primary, Williams has pledged to rank his fellow citywide elected official first or second, Playbook first reported. That is, in part, a reflection of a race that has been slow to take shape given the pending questions of whether Adams remains in office and whether Cuomo runs. Lander’s campaign manager Alison Hirsh made it clear that Cuomo is a serious threat and would stay in their crosshairs. Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi scoffed. “This is all premature, but everyone knows Lander’s DSA-approved defund the police, anti-Israel positions are out of touch with New Yorkers and it’s sad he spends all his time obsessed with a guy who isn’t currently in the race while ignoring the actual job taxpayers are paying him for,” he said. — Jeff Coltin HAPPY FRIDAY. Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.   A message from RHOAR NYC: Help Make NYC Homeownership Affordable. Pass Bill 1107 to restore short-term rental rights to small, neighborhood homeowners. NYC neighborhoods thrive through the stability of owner-occupied homes. Bill 1107 will restore short-term rental rights to one- and two-family homeowners who live in their homes and relied on short-term rental income to maintain and stay in their homes. Learn more at www.rhoar.org.   WHERE’S KATHY? Speaking to the Long Island Association and unveiling a State of the State proposal in Westbury. WHERE’S ERIC? Doing a round of morning TV interviews on NY1, PIX 11 and Fox 5. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The fundamentals for our labor force are strong. And people, especially young people, want to live here.” — Melissa Pumphrey, a senior vice president at the city’s Economic Development Corporation, to the New York Times on the city’s economic health ahead of a potential Trump shake-up. ABOVE THE FOLD Democrats are regrouping after a disappointing November election for the party. | Francis Chung/POLITICO DEMS’ STRATEGY: Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries have focused their messaging more on the economy as of late, seeking to convince voters who either stayed home or backed Republicans that the Dems — not the GOP — are the party of the working class, POLITICO reports. “The promises we heard from Republicans about fighting for the working class didn’t even make it to Inauguration Day,” Schumer, the Senate minority leader, posted Thursday on X. “They’re back to trying to cut taxes for the ultra-wealthy and mega corporations.” “House Democrats have successfully stopped the billionaire boys club,” Jeffries told reporters after averting a shutdown in negotiations that Elon Musk meddled with. The Dems’ next big chances to show there’s a contrast are the Senate confirmation hearings of Trump administration appointees that include several billionaires, as well as the legislative fight over the Trump tax cuts that Jeffries has labeled a “scam.” The rank-and-file isn’t exactly on the same page on how to confront Trump 2.0, but more than a dozen interviews with New York House Democrats revealed that wrestling back the economic narrative is a top priority. That’s just the way it is in a big-tent caucus. Labor and left-leaning allies applaud Democratic leadership’s portrayal of Trump as beholden to the billionaire class, but they also had guidance for Schumer and Jeffries. “They both have, in their own particular ways, exemplified message discipline, but they are also the heads of two very large, diverse conferences who are going to have a lot of different ideas,” Kevin Elkins, political director for the New York City District Council of Carpenters, told Playbook. “If they zero in on economic populism … then I think you’re going to see results.” Jasmine Gripper, co-director of the New York Working Families Party, said Dem leaders have the right messaging but should walk the walk, too, saying the party should support cities and states in “how they are fighting for the minimum wage, how they are fighting for labor standards, how they are fighting to put money back in people’s pockets.” — Emily Ngo CITY HALL: THE LATEST Mayor Eric Adams unveiled his plans for 2025 in his State of the City address. | Yuki Iwamura/AP SAVINGS PLAN: Adams once put up billboards telling young men to pull up their pants and “stop the sag.” Now he thinks they’re dressed too well, he said while pitching a financial literacy program at his State of the City address. “Terms like interest, credit and debt will determine our students' success in the 21st century. But too many young people still don't know what they mean,” he said Thursday. “They are wearing their success in their clothing, not in their bank accounts and their investments.” Adams announced plans to teach public school students personal financial skills, POLITICO Pro reports. That includes opening 15 bank branches in schools to give students “real-work experience” with opening bank accounts. The city, he added, will also work on a new program to "teach students how to manage real money" and "encourage them to build financial skills.” Adams vowed to ensure that every student can learn how to save and spend money by 2030. — Madina Touré & Jeff Coltin More from the city: — Under fire, a defiant Adams outlined a path ahead of reelection in his State of the City address. (POLITICO) — Hundreds of NYPD sergeants demanded “fair pay” from the city, slamming a contract dispute that has caused them to get paid less than the officers they supervise. (New York Post) — Former NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton was hired by New Orleans Police to consult after a terror attack that killed 14 people in the French Quarter. (ABC)   A message from RHOAR NYC:   NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY The fight over the Panama Canal's future is seeping into New York politics. | Matias Delacroix/AP A MAN, A PLAN, A CANAL: The Panama Canal probably hasn’t been much of a factor in gubernatorial politics since the days of Teddy Roosevelt. But in a statement to Playbook, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s campaign on Thursday mocked potential Republican rival Rep. Mike Lawler for signing onto a bill that would enable the U.S. to repurchase the canal. The canal has been a preoccupation of President-elect Donald Trump over concerns of foreign influence at the crucial passage. So Lawler’s signing onto the measure was a chance for Team Hochul to tie the Hudson Valley lawmaker to a MAGA-aligned issue — a potential taste of what’s to come if he launches a bid for governor. “Mike Lawler should stop kissing Trump’s ass and start working on lowering costs and fully repealing the SALT deduction for New York families,” said a Hochul campaign spokesperson, referring to the fight over state and local tax deductions. “He's deeply unserious.” The recent conversations over the canal and Greenland stem from the worry that hostile countries are trying to exert influence — and potentially harm U.S. interests. A Lawler spokesperson in response derided Hochul for elevating Linda Sun, who was later accused by federal law enforcement of acting as an undisclosed foreign agent of the Chinese government. Sun has pleaded not guilty. China doesn’t control the canal, but like the U.S. heavily uses the waterway. “So, Kathy Hochul would like China to control the Panama Canal and have the United States take a back seat to China in the Western Hemisphere?” said Lawler spokesperson Nate Soule. “No wonder she had a Chinese spy working in her office! What’s next, mandating the state curriculum be taught in Mandarin?” — Nick Reisman HEDGE FUNDS AND HOUSING: State Senate Finance Committee Chair Liz Krueger told Playbook Thursday she’s encouraged by Hochul’s desire to crack down on private equity snapping up housing. Krueger, a Manhattan Democrat, has backed legislation with Assemblymember Michaelle Solages that would place a 50 percent tax on the fair market value of any single-family home purchased by a hedge fund or similar entity. Hochul’s proposal would remove some tax benefits as well as block the funds from bidding on homes for the first 75 days a property is on the market. Broadly they share the same goal – to address a problem that advocates have warned is leading to higher housing costs across the country. “We want to get these houses back on the market and be bought by actual New York homeowners,” Krueger said in an interview. Krueger said she planned to speak with Hochul’s office about elements of the proposal. The powerful Real Estate Board of New York said Hochul’s plan could hurt the goal of expanding housing in the state. "While we intend to closely review the governor's proposal, this is yet another example of policy that will stifle investment in housing in New York,” President James Whelan said. “We encourage elected officials to instead focus on solutions that will actually improve the quality of housing across the state." — Nick Reisman DEBT WATCH: There’s light at the end of the tunnel for the lingering unemployment insurance debt surcharge that has bedeviled New York employers in the aftermath of Covid. At issue is $6 billion in debt New York state owes to the federal Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund after joblessness spiked in the early months of the pandemic. Employers have been shouldering the burden of the debt with a payroll tax surcharge. Speaker Carl Heastie this week called for some relief — especially for small businesses. “We must find a way to eliminate the money owed to reduce the burden on small businesses,” he said. “In doing so, we can also increase the benefit to workers who become unemployed so that they can continue to support themselves and their families.” That heartened business advocates who have pressed for help. The Business Council, for instance, has set up a clock online to demonstrate how long the issue has plagued employers. “We appreciate the speaker, recognizing the UI debt as a problem for employers,” Business Council spokesperson Pat Bailey told Playbook. “This debt paid solely by state employers is holding many small businesses back from growing and expanding our economy.” — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — New York lawmakers want to protect the goals of a “climate superfund” law ahead of likely legal challenges from energy companies. (Gothamist) — An Oneida County judge who engaged in a profane rant at a high school graduation party in 2022 was removed from office. (Spectrum News) — State lawmakers are pushing to develop seven acres of land on a state office complex in Albany. (Spectrum News) KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION New York House Republicans are huddling with President-elect Donald Trump to talk SALT. | Francis Chung/POLITICO SUMMIT WITH TRUMP: So-called SALT Republicans from high-tax New York, New Jersey and California are heading to Mar-a-Lago on Saturday to urge Trump to lift the cap on state and local tax deductions as the GOP dives into what are sure to be contentious talks on tax breaks. Exactly how high can they get the limit raised? They won’t say. It’s a negotiating no-no. But they’re OK in acting confident that it’ll be higher than the current $10,000. Simply doubling the cap, as some in the Trump admin have suggested, is “1,000 percent” insufficient, Lawler of the Hudson Valley told Playbook. “We need to move in the direction of higher. Nobody has the best sense of exactly what it will be,” Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) said. What’s more certain is that restoring the deduction fully — what House Democrats and Hochul are clamoring for — is likely a nonstarter. “I think we need to be reasonable and recognize that it’s not going to be unlimited. It needs to be targeted to the middle class,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of Staten Island said. “The real problem is our mayor and our governors tax people to death like that. Like, we wouldn't need SALT relief if the mayor and the governor didn’t abuse taxpayers, right?” — Ben Guggenheim, Mia McCarthy and Emily Ngo More from the delegation: — Senate Democrats, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, overwhelmingly helped advance the Laken Riley Act, a signal the illegal immigration crackdown bill could pass next week. (POLITICO) — Schumer is privately pressing his senators to create fireworks when they question Trump’s nominees in the coming weeks. (Axios) — Lawler will lead a subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa. (NY1) NEW YORK STATE OF MIND — A divided Supreme Court rejected Trump’s bid to block his sentencing on his conviction in the Manhattan hush money case. (POLITICO) — Illegal crossings at New York’s northern border with Canada are on the rise. (Newsday) — The expansion of wetland protection in the state has alarmed the owners of lakefront property. (New York Upstate)   A message from RHOAR NYC: When New York City passed and began enforcing its overly strict short-term rental law, many hard-working families who relied on income from sharing their homes were financially devastated. After a year of advocacy and thousands of letters into City Hall from homeowners across NYC’s five boroughs, the New York City Council recently introduced Bill 1107 to restore short-term rental rights to registered one- and two-family homeowners who live in their homes. Passing Bill 1107 will mean increasing the economic tools available to everyday New Yorkers to maintain and stay in their homes, creating stability for the city’s most vulnerable homeowners and the local communities and businesses that depend on them. Learn more at www.rhoar.org.   SOCIAL DATA Edited by Daniel Lippman OUT & ABOUT: PR guru Todd Shapiro threw himself a party at the Bryant Park Grill Thursday night to celebrate both his 60th birthday and the 30th anniversary of his eponymous public relations firm. Both Adams and former Mayor Bill de Blasio attended — leading to an awkward moment when Shapiro introduced Adams as “the greatest mayor of the city of New — sorry de Blasio, I love you too!” SPOTTED: Attorney General Letitia James, former Gov. David Paterson, John and Margo Catsimatidis, DOT Commish Ydanis Rodriguez, City Hall IGA Director Tiffany Raspberry, Rev. Al Cockfield, Arthur Aidala, Assemblymembers Al Taylor and Monique Chandler-Waterman (X pic), Roberto Perez, the Post’s Keith Poole, Rita Cosby, Frank Morano and Adams, again wearing his controversial joint Yankees-Mets hat. MAKING MOVES: Bill Cortese is joining Mercury Public Affairs as a senior vice president on its government relations team. He was most recently a senior adviser to Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.). … Jessica Merritt is now legislative director for Rep. George Latimer (D-N.Y.). She previously was legislative director for Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.). MEDIAWATCH: Sara Murray has been named a managing director for FTI’s Cybersecurity group. She most recently was a correspondent at CNN. (h/t Oliver Darcy’s Status) HAPPY BIRTHDAY: BSJ’s Juanita Scarlett … Rachel Sabella of No Kid Hungry New York … Beth Fouhy … NBC’s Freddie Tunnard … Jared Kushner … Michelle Fields … Morgan Finkelstein … Lauren Coape-Arnold … (WAS THURSDAY): Ben Taub ... Allison Rubin ... Steven Kotler ... Joel Plasco ... Keith A. Gessen  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

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