| | | | | |  | | By Erin Durkin, Anna Gronewold and Deanna Garcia | Presented by Equinor | To the surprise of almost no one, New York's first-ever Independent Redistricting Commission — a supposed bipartisan solution to gerrymandering and discord — has failed to reach a bipartisan agreement. We heard warning sirens when the first drafts of dueling maps were released last fall, but in the past few months it seems very few fences were mended among the IRC's Democratic and Republican members during more than a dozen public hearings across the state. So yesterday, the panel sent competing sets of maps to the Legislature, failing its first and biggest test , and not without a good amount of finger-pointing during Monday's brief public meeting. Republicans seemed to have "indifference to public input and an unwillingness to put pen to paper and modify their maps," Democratic Chair David Imamura said, and Democrats would "only negotiate off the partisan maps that you prepared," according to Republican co-chair Jack Martins. The Democratic supermajorities in the state Senate and Assembly now have the option of attempting to pass whichever sets of maps they want. It would typically be a good bet all those Dems would choose the maps proposed by the Democratic members of the Independent Redistricting Commission, but that too seems contentious: The Democratic plan could lead to six primaries between incumbent Democrats in the state Senate, our Bill Mahoney reports. With several legislative careers on the line, it could be hard to find the almost unanimous approval the conferences need to finalize new districts. Even if they start with the commission's Democratic proposals, lawmakers will likely add a fair amount of their own flair before anything will receive a final vote. In short, this will now all be up to the majorities in the Legislature. Same as it ever was. IT'S TUESDAY. Got tips, suggestions or thoughts? Let us know ... By email: EDurkin@politico.com and agronewold@politico.com, or on Twitter: @erinmdurkin and @annagronewold WHERE'S KATHY? No public schedule. WHERE'S ERIC? Appearing on CNN's New Day. QUOTE OF THE DAY "When a mayor has swagger, the city has swagger. We've allowed people to beat us down so much that all we did was wallow in Covid… and we no longer believed this is a city of swagger. … That's why I got so much swagger. We need a mayor of swagger." — Mayor Eric Adams | | | | A message from Equinor: Can a wind turbine generate more than electricity? We believe it can. At Equinor, we're planning to power 2,000,000 New York homes with homegrown, renewable energy that will also boost the economy and generate jobs. And we will do more. Equinor is a broad energy company with an ambitious net-zero target for 2050. We're pursuing the Empire Wind and Beacon Wind offshore wind developments in the US and quickly becoming a leader in this growing industry. | | |
|  | WHAT CITY HALL'S READING | | "COVID Schools Crisis Tests Eric Adams in First Days as Mayor," by The City's Katie Honan, Josefa Velasquez and Farah Javed: "Facing his first major test as mayor, Eric Adams vowed Monday to keep New York City public schools open despite record-busting city COVID case numbers, even as one-third of children stayed home as classes resumed following holiday break. 'We want to be extremely clear: the safest place for our children is in a school building,' the mayor said at a press conference after visiting Concourse Village elementary school in The Bronx. 'And we are going to keep our schools open and ensure that our children are safe in a safe environment.' "While nearly a million children were scheduled to return to public school classrooms, children with COVID infections — almost all of them unvaccinated — are filling up hospital intensive care units, say those who treat them. The city's teachers union called for temporary remote learning as New York City fights the latest COVID wave, as the share of positive COVID tests across the five boroughs reached 22% on Monday. Some parents and teachers called for a 'sick out' to protest the lack of a remote school option." — "NYC teachers sue for two weeks of remote learning as COVID cases soar," by New York Post's Priscilla DeGregory Adams' shift on noncitizen voting bill concerns advocates as deadline nears, by POLITICO's Deanna Garcia and Sally Goldenberg: Candidate Eric Adams delivered a full-throated endorsement of a bill to allow noncitizens to vote in municipal elections, but Mayor Eric Adams has a different view. "How dare we celebrate our emancipation from the bigotry and hatred of the previous president, when we are still silent where millions of Americans are still living on the plantation of not participating in government," Adams said in November 2020, a week before announcing his bid for mayor. ... But now, with just five days left to decide whether to sign a bill that would do just that, the city's new chief executive is expressing reservation. — It's unclear whether Adams has the authority to sign or veto the bill given timelines mandated by law. "City Employees Press Adams For Work-From-Home Option After De Blasio Refused," by Gothamist's Caroline Lewis: "With coronavirus cases on the rise again due to the omicron variant, more city workers are speaking out against former Mayor Bill de Blasio's policy, first implemented in September, that required them to go back to the office. Some say they're hopeful that new Mayor Eric Adams will be more receptive to their calls for flexible work-from-home rules. But so far, the new mayor has yet to commit to any major changes, arguing that going to the office is good for the city's flagging economy." — " Omicron wreaks havoc on NYC, causes crippling staff shortages," by New York Post's Nolan Hicks, Jack Morphet, Carl Campanile and Emily Crane: "Between vital transportation and emergency services, retailers and schools, workers are calling in sick by the thousands while grappling with the coronavirus and mandatory quarantines." — " Mayor Adams bristles at big banks for reverting to remote work amid COVID spike: 'You can't run NYC from home,'" by New York Daily News' Chris Sommerfeldt | | | | BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we've got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don't miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now. | | | | |
| | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | "District attorney expected to drop groping case against Cuomo," by Times Union's Brendan J. Lyons: "The Albany County district attorney's office is expected to drop a forcible touching complaint against former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, the Times Union has learned. The decision comes just days before Cuomo is scheduled to make his first appearance in Albany City Court on Friday afternoon to face a misdemeanor charge alleging that he groped a 33-year-old female aide in December 2020 during a workplace encounter at the Executive Mansion. And it comes after two other district attorneys announced they would not pursue criminal charges against him for alleged inappropriate conduct with women." — Manhattan DA won't charge Cuomo in nursing home probe, lawyer says, by POLITICO's Anna Gronewold: Prosecutors in Manhattan have concluded former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo did not break the law when his administration misled the public about the number of Covid-19 deaths tied to nursing homes, the Democrat's former attorney said on Monday. Elkan Abramowitz, who served as outside counsel to Cuomo's office, said in a statement that the former governor was told Monday by the head of the Manhattan district attorney's Elder Abuse Unit that the office had completed a "thorough investigation" and would not bring charges. "As we have said all along — there was no evidence to suggest that any laws were broken," Abramowitz said in the statement. "Kathy Hochul Will Propose Term Limits for New York Governors," by The New York Times' Luis Ferré-Sadurní: "Gov. Kathy Hochul will propose a limit of two four-year terms on New York State governors in her first State of the State address on Wednesday — a move that could allow Ms. Hochul to distance herself from her scandal-marred predecessor, former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who held outsize power for over a decade. The proposal, a milestone that would require a constitutional amendment, would apply only to statewide elected officials — including the lieutenant governor, the attorney general and the comptroller, according to state officials. It would need approval from the State Legislature as well as from voters and could significantly curb the power of the highest office in New York, where recent governors have served for as long as 14 years." — "Term limits have been an on-again, off-again topic in Albany for generations. In 1994, Republican George Pataki, in his race against then-Gov. Mario M. Cuomo, vowed to serve just two terms; he served three. State lawmakers in power have handily beaten back calls that they face term limits. The concept of term limits in New York, unlike many other states, was not inserted into the original writings of the state constitution. The longest serving governor of New York was its first: George Clinton. He served from July 9, 1777 until 1795 and then from 1801 to 1804." — Buffalo News' Tom Precious TAG TEAM: Gov. Hochul and AG Tish James — no longer in competition for the executive mansion — announced jointly on Monday that New York is continuing in multistate legal action against the federal government's State and Local Taxes deduction cap. SALT is an issue near and dear to Rep. Tom Suozzi , who is definitely still campaigning with it in his challenge to Hochul in the June primary. "New York surpasses 100 daily COVID-19 deaths for first time in nearly a year," by Newsday's Bart Jones, Lisa L. Colangelo and Matthew Chayes — " How COVID hospitalization reporting will change in New York," by Spectrum's Nick Reisman: "Hospitals for the first time in New York state will be required to provide more granular detail on COVID-19 patients, a move that could provide better insight in how virulent the omicron variant has been over the last several weeks. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced hospitals, beginning Tuesday, will provide separate numbers on how many people are hospitalized because of COVID-19 and those who were admitted for other reasons, but subsequently tested positive for the virus and may have a mild or asymptomatic case." #UpstateAmerica: Williamsville's deputy mayor penned a scathing letter blaming his resignation entirely on Mayor Deborah Rogers for encouraging toxic and destructive politics in the small Erie County village. "I watched stunned as the mayor appeared to revel in the chaos and vitriol spewed at her fellow board members," Matthew Etu wrote of a recent meeting. | | | | A message from Equinor:   | | |
| | TRUMP'S NEW YORK | | "New York A.G. Seeks to Question Trump Children in Fraud Inquiry," by The New York Times' William K. Rashbaum and Jonah E. Bromwich: "The New York State attorney general's office, which last month subpoenaed Donald J. Trump as part of a civil investigation into his business practices, is also seeking to question two of his adult children as part of the inquiry. The involvement of the children, Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump, was disclosed in a court document filed on Monday as the Trump Organization sought to block lawyers for the attorney general, Letitia James, from questioning the former president and his children. The subpoenas for the former president and two of his children were served on Dec. 1, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Eric Trump, another of Mr. Trump's sons, was already questioned by Ms. James's office in October 2020." | | AROUND NEW YORK | | — "How a lack of stable housing, combined with bureaucratic hurdles in New York's labyrinthine re-entry process, kept one man at Rikers during the height of its crisis." — "We all felt it was time": The Firemen's Association of the State of New York is switching to gender-neutral Firefighters' Association for its 150th birthday. — Domestic workers are now included in New York's human rights law and paid family leave benefits. — Travelers at LaGuardia Airport are missing their flights while they wait in hours-long lines in the cold to get tested for Covid-19. — The Covid testing site at SUNY Albany will reopen amid a surge in cases. — NYPD officers helped Far Rockaway residents who were trapped on the street that was flooded due to a high tide Monday morning. — The Long Island teacher who was arrested for injecting the Covid-19 vaccine in a teenager's arm without parental consent, was reassigned from her classroom duties. — Hochul appointed new advisers for housing, public safety and economic development. | | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | |
| | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY: NBC's Ben Mayer … Rob Gifford of CBSN … WSJ's Qianwei Zhang … Marc Brumer of the Herald Group … Joshua Zeitz … Amazon's Deborah Matteliano … Patrick Connolly … Karen Goldsmith ... Andy Borowitz ... Alexander Langer … Claire Zucker WHAT WALL STREET IS READING — Per NYT's Maureen Farrell and Kate Kelly: "Bridgewater, the world's biggest hedge fund, named two new chief executives on Monday after David McCormick, the current chief, told employees he would step down to consider a run for the U.S. Senate. Nir Bar Dea, the deputy chief executive of Bridgewater, and Mark Bertolini, a Bridgewater board member and former chief executive of Aetna, will now lead the hedge fund jointly." … David and Ray's notes to the company MEDIAWATCH — Per POLITICO Playbook: "Pulitzer-winning WaPo star David Fahrenthold is leaving the paper after 21 years to join the NYT as an investigative reporter in the Washington bureau, focusing on the Trump Organization and the misuse of nonprofits. Announcement … CNN is adding former Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone as a law enforcement analyst and Trump campaign alum David Urban as a political commentator." … Per Talking Biz News: "The New York Times has hired Jenny Vrentas as a general assignment reporter working on enterprise and investigations on the Sports desk. Vrentas joins from Sports Illustrated, where she spent over 8 years, recently as an NFL writer. … Bloomberg has tapped Skylar Woodhouse on the municipal finance team, [with] covering transit and helping with Bloomberg's New Jersey coverage." … … "Axios has hired Pete Gannon as business editor and Emily Peck as markets correspondent. Gannon will contribute to and edit Axios Markets and Axios Closer, while Peck will co-author the daily Axios Markets newsletter. … Forbes has hired John Hyatt as a senior reporter on the wealth beat. He was previously an intern on the wealth team. … Jerod Dabney, associate producer at NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, has left after 2 years." Per Florida Playbook, Gregg Birnbaum is joining the University of Florida in January as a journalism instructor on "Fresh Take Florida," a news service run by the College of Journalism and Communications. Birnbaum, an NBC, POLITICO and New York Post alum, is also an adjunct professor in the journalism department at CUNY's Baruch College. MAKING MOVES — Carolyn Pokorny is the new first assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York. She was formerly MTA inspector general. … Willow Baer is now general counsel and deputy commissioner of the Division of Legal Affairs in the Office of Children and Family Services. She most recently was interim assistant counsel to the governor in the New York State Executive Chamber and general counsel and deputy commissioner in the N.Y. State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities. … Shams Tarek has taken over as communications director at the N.Y. State Division of Budget. … Pamela Gomez Hill is now director of corporate communications at Eventbrite. She most recently was a director of communications at Bloomberg and is also a CNN and Fox News alum. … Emily Badalamente has been promoted to be the assistant secretary for human services and mental hygiene at the New York State Executive Chamber. She most recently was senior policy adviser for human services and mental hygiene. | | | | A message from Equinor: The energy transition is the defining challenge opportunity of our time. Our world needs energy to keep moving forward — but it must be affordable, reliable, and accessible. How will we do it? By accelerating the energy transition . At Equinor, we're growing our renewable energy portfolio and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. We're already on the way to powering 2,000,000 New York homes with energy from the Empire Wind and Beacon Wind offshore wind projects. But for us, that's only the beginning. By the time the global population reaches 9 billion in 2050, our goal is to have net-zero emissions. Discover more about Equinor at www.equinor.com/USA. | | |
| | REAL ESTATE | | "NYC Must Provide Separate Housing for Trans People in Homeless Shelters Under New Settlement," by WNYC's Gwynne Hogan: "New York City must provide dedicated, separate housing for homeless trans and gender non-conforming people in city shelters in four boroughs, according to the terms of a recent legal settlement with Mariah Lopez, an activist with the Strategic Transgender Alliance for Radical Reform or STARR. By December 2022, the city has agreed to make at least 30 beds for trans people available across the city with locations in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Manhattan."
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