| | | | | |  | | By Erin Durkin, Anna Gronewold and Deanna Garcia | Presented by Equinor | After four months of educated guesses, New Yorkers now know the broad strokes of Gov. Kathy Hochul's policy priorities as she begins to negotiate her first budget with the legislature and stares down reelection this year. Hochul delivered her State of the State speech to a populated but far-from-crowded Capitol on Wednesday, wearing suffragist white (as she did for her swearing-in) and promising a dazzling "comeback" for the state in the wake of Covid-19 and a tumultuous end to the decade-long rule of her predecessor. The address — free of any major bombshells and with enough goodies to go around — was largely applauded by her fellow Democrats, though any disagreements are more likely to arise when detailed specifics emerge in her budget proposal later this month. A permanent authorization to allow restaurants and bars to sell cocktails to-go generated the most immediate online buzz. Kathy will toast to that. Some toplines: Hochul vowed to "rebuild and grow" the state's health care workforce by 20 percent over the next five years and create more incentives to certify and attract teachers beaten down by Covid-19. She outlined a plan to overhaul the beleaguered Joint Commission on Public Ethics. And she promised to make SUNY and CUNY more accessible to all kinds of learners by expanding the state's part-time Tuition Assistance Program. Outgoing Assemblymember Dick Gottfried tweeted that among the 52 such speeches he's heard, Hochul's was "the best of them all!" Wednesday's physical backdrop wouldn't inspire such hyperbole. The governor wanted to keep the Capitol building as open as possible , her aides said, even as many around her flagged concerning Covid-19 positivity rates and the prospect of a large-scale protest from opponents of vaccination mandates could endanger her health and that of various other elected officials gathered that day. Ultimately, the administration announced it would impose temporary rapid testing and vaccination requirements, which left hundreds of protesters rallying outside the Capitol. Inside… well, the restrictions seemed to have worked. As the governor began her remarks at 1 p.m., there were 40 state troopers guarding the stairways and elevators on this floor. There were only three members of the public. IT'S THURSDAY. Got tips, suggestions or thoughts? Let us know ... By email: EDurkin@politico.com and agronewold@politico.com , or on Twitter: @erinmdurkin and @annagronewold WHERE ARE KATHY AND ERIC? Making a joint announcement in Manhattan. The mayor will also appear on CNBC, 1010 WINS and WCBS. ABOVE THE FOLD — The GOP 'Traitor' Trump Hasn't Managed to Bully, by POLITICO's Michael Kruse: Republican congressman John Katko spent most of 2021 dealing in one way or another with the political ramifications of what he did in its first two weeks. Last Jan. 6, after dismissing the false notion that the 2020 election had been "stolen" from defeated president Donald Trump, the former federal prosecutor sheltered in his Capitol office behind barricaded doors. Listening to menacing steps in the halls, he called on Trump to "end this, now." ... Ever since, even as Katko has lost the support of local and state conservative leaders and taken flak from Trump, the four-term incumbent has put himself more and more at odds with most of his GOP colleagues. | | | | 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 | | "Adrienne Adams elected first-ever Black speaker of NYC Council," by New York Daily News' Chris Sommerfeldt: "Adrienne Adams was elected the next speaker of the City Council on Wednesday, becoming the first Black woman to ever take on the powerful post after a contentious back-room race that dealt an early blow to Mayor Adams' perceived influence over the legislative body. Adams, who represents a section of eastern Queens that includes Jamaica, was picked for the speaker job in an internal vote by the Council's 51 members during their first meeting of the year. In her first floor remarks as speaker, Adams said she was honored by her colleagues' trust, but did not linger on the celebratory note. 'We must realize that we are here because New York is at the crossroads of multiple crises, each one competing for our full attention,' she said, listing off the still-raging coronavirus pandemic, gun violence and economic inequality as issues that must be addressed by the Council this term… "Adams' historic appointment had a preordained air to it, in that speaker's race was effectively decided last month when all other candidates dropped out and a majority of members publicly committed support for Adams. But some fireworks still erupted in the Council chamber during the vote. Newly sworn-in socialist Council members Charles Barron of Brooklyn and Kristin Richardson Jordan of Harlem, who were alone in voting against Adams' speaker nomination, both suggested their colleague from Queens is too closely aligned with Mayor Adams and not sufficiently progressive on issues like policing." — Council Member Diana Ayala of the Bronx was appointed deputy speaker, Manhattan's Keith Powers as majority leader, and Selvena Brooks-Powers of Queens as majority whip. — Council Member Justin Brannan is thought to be in line to chair the Finance Committee. Hochul considers new rail line to connect Brooklyn and Queens, by POLITICO's Danielle Muoio Dunn: Gov. Kathy Hochul is reviving a long dormant plan to make use of old freight lines to build a new transit connection linking southwest Brooklyn with northwestern Queens. … In her State of the State plan released on Wednesday, Hochul said she wants to make use of a 14-mile freight line between Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and Jackson Heights, Queens to build a new "Interborough Express" line. Hochul is directing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to study the best option for connecting the neighborhoods — heavy rail, light rail or bus rapid transit. Hochul said the project is "long overdue," noting that most subway lines make traveling between Brooklyn and Queens a tedious and roundabout process. "COVID cases among NYC students and school staff spiked over winter break," by Chalkbeat's Alex Zimmerman: "Over 38,000 teachers and students in New York City public schools have reported positive COVID tests since the Dec. 24 start of winter recess, representing more virus cases than the entire rest of the school year combined, according to updated figures the education department released Wednesday. In the first three months of the school year, through Dec. 23, nearly 23,000 teachers and staff tested positive. … Nearly 27,000 positive cases were reported on Monday and Tuesday alone, but education department officials stressed that most of those were the result of positive tests that occurred over the winter break but were not reported until schools reopened." — Adams beefs up hospital funding amid Omicron wave, by POLITICO's Erin Durkin: With Covid-19 hospitalizations surging, Mayor Eric Adams announced plans Wednesday to step up funding and staff for the city's public hospitals and hospitals treating poor New Yorkers. The city is now averaging 30,000 new virus cases a day, said Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi. The number of New Yorkers hospitalized with the virus has surpassed last winter's wave. Under a three-point plan unveiled on Wednesday, the public hospital system will get nurses and staff. Officials will offer $27 million in loans to private "safety net" hospitals, which serve poor and uninsured patients. — The virus is raging inside city courtrooms. "Can Adams Rebuild, and Rein In, a Notorious N.Y.P.D. Unit?" by The New York Times' Troy Closson: "During his successful campaign for mayor of New York City, Eric Adams made his top priority clear: tackling the rise in gun violence that began early in the pandemic. But the path that Mayor Adams has charted to reduce shootings centers on reinstating a version of the plainclothes police units that had become notorious for their use of force on Black and Latino New Yorkers before the units were disbanded in 2020. The proposal to restore what were known as anti-crime units has been roundly criticized by progressive groups, and underscores the tensions Mr. Adams is facing over policing issues in his first days in office." | | | | 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 | | SOTS DEEPER DIVE: — "Hochul seeks to seal records of NY felons who stay clean for 7 years after doing time," by Syracuse.com's Mark Weiner: "More than 2 million New Yorkers with conviction records would be eligible to have their criminal records sealed under a bill that Gov. Kathy Hochul said she wants to sign into law. In her 2022 State of the State address on Wednesday, Hochul declared her support for the Clean Slate Act, a bill intended to help New Yorkers get back on their feet after completing a prison sentence. New Yorkers convicted of felonies would be eligible to have their records sealed seven years after their release. Those sentenced for misdemeanors would be eligible to have their records sealed after three years." — "What Hochul wants to do with public safety in New York," by Spectrum's Nick Reisman: "As she unveiled her agenda for 2022, Gov. Kathy Hochul acknowledged New Yorkers are increasingly concerned about crime and public safety. And while she waded into what has become an increasingly contentious issue between lawmakers, law enforcement and reform advocates, the governor sought to walk a tight rope: Picking issues where there can be broad agreement for majority Democrats who control the state Legislature, while staying away from more controversial topics like changes to the state's bail laws." — " Hochul Backs Permanent Legalization Of To-Go Cocktails As Part Of Recovery Plan," by WNYC's Gwynne Hogan: "The measure will require a change in law from the state legislature that will likely be hammered out during the budget process this spring, though Hochul holds significant sway over that process. The proposal was a piece of the governor's nearly $10 billion relief plan for small businesses, who've struggled through two years of a devastating pandemic. Other components include a tax credit for small businesses for COVID-19-related expenses and seed funding grants." — "Hochul outlines plan to create independent ethics watchdog," by Times Union's Chris Bragg: "Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday revealed more details on her plan to replace New York's much-criticized ethics enforcement body with a new entity possessing 'real teeth — one that answers to New Yorkers and not politicians.' Hochul's plan would abolish the state Joint Commission on Public Ethics, created in 2011 by former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and the Legislature, and replace it with a new, five-person entity that would enforce New York's ethics and lobbying laws. The new watchdog panel — Hochul did not suggest a name — would draw its membership from a group of 15 deans of state-accredited law schools or their designees, according to the plan outlined in Hochul's State of the State briefing book." — "Hochul: Supersize NYC apartment buildings, replace 421a," by The Real Deal's Kathryn Brenzel: "Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to repeal a key property tax break, lift a cap on apartment building density in New York City and provide free lawyers to tenants statewide. The governor will propose a replacement to the 421a tax exemption, requiring deeper affordability and mandating green building systems, such as carbon-neutral technologies and electrification. She also will call for the creation of an affordable homeownership option in the program, which has been primarily for rentals. The tax break is slated to expire June 15 and is often cited by developers as crucial to the construction of multifamily housing in the city. But tenant advocates and some elected officials have called for its repeal, saying the $1.7 billion in property taxes forgiven annually is a giveaway to real estate developers." — WATCH: The GOP rebuttal from presumed nominee for governor Rep. Lee Zeldin. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Five new, left-leaning members of the City Council are throwing their support behind New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams' gubernatorial bid, his campaign told POLITICO. Among the group is Brooklyn Democrat Lincoln Restler, who worked for one of Williams' likely opponents — former Mayor Bill de Blasio — as a policy and politics aide. Williams' other endorsers include Tiffany Cabán and Julie Won of Queens, and Alexa Avilés and Jennifer Gutiérrez from Brooklyn. "This group of leaders from across the city demonstrate the power of our grassroots campaign and our vision to renew and recover New York in a way that's different from the status quo, because for too long the way things have functioned in Albany haven't helped a majority of folks in this state," Williams said. The public advocate is in a rematch against Kathy Hochul, whom he challenged in a lieutenant governor campaign four years ago — a race she won by 7 points. — Sally Goldenberg #UpstateAmerica: Junkyard battle. | | | | A message from Equinor:   | | |
| | AROUND NEW YORK | | — Albany public schools will shift to distance learning through the end of next week. — Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo may still have to appear in court despite criminal charges against him being dropped. — The state attorney general's office alleged in court papers that a Long Island pet store accused of selling sick puppies is stonewalling its probe. — Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick will resign next month to take over a nationwide nonprofit organization, People For the American Way. — The Bills are still on track for a new stadium, despite no shoutout from Hochul in the State of the State, all parties say. — Six Starbucks employees in Buffalo walked off the job Wednesday due to lack of staff and resources to work safely through Covid-19 case surge. — A Staten Island animal shelter is hopelessly looking for homes for pets and healthy workers. — A man was fatally stabbed in his Bronx apartment by someone who lives in the building and is now in custody. | | | | 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: Olivia Nuzzi of New York magazine … Eric Trump … WSJ's Kate O'Keeffe and James Taranto … MSNBC's Shaquille Brewster … Bernie Susskind … Diego Galvez … Alex Berenson … Tom Lloyd … Julie Chen … Henry R. Kravis … Matt Ford … Alexandra Dakich … Scott Neumyer … George Ross is 94 ... Anna Phillips ... Nancy A. Baker MAKING MOVES — Independent Budget Office director Ronnie Lowenstein will retire this month after more than two decades as director and 25 years at IBO. George Sweeting, IBO's deputy director, will serve as acting director. … Former City Council Member Steve Levin will be the new CEO of Solar One. … … Kanaan Generette Oliver is now global director of diversity, equity and inclusion at Fragomen. She most recently was senior manager for diversity, equity, and inclusion at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. ... Kelly Stevens is now COO of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. She most recently was COO of Cleary Gottlieb. WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Patrick Ryan, Ulster County executive, and Rebecca Ryan, VP for health finance and reimbursement at Greater New York Hospital Association, last week welcomed Cameron John Ryan, who came in at 6 lbs 15.5 oz. and 19.8". He joins big brother Theo. Pic … Another pic | | | | 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 | | "Real estate firm sues NYC over workplace vaccine mandate," by The Associated Press' Bobby Caina Calvin : "A lawsuit has been filed in federal court challenging New York City's sweeping mandate requiring nearly all private-sector businesses to ban unvaccinated employees from the workplace, asserting that the city's attempt to control the coronavirus pandemic deprives tens of thousands of businesses from pursuing their livelihoods. The lawsuit filed Tuesday contends businesses like Cornerstone Realty, a Staten Island real estate firm that is the only named plaintiff in the case, are being unduly forced to fire unvaccinated workers and asserts the city's vaccination edict lacks mechanisms for businesses to appeal." "End to Eviction Moratorium Will Stress-Test Tenants' Right to a Lawyer," by The City's Yoav Gonen: "A legacy left by former mayor Bill de Blasio will be put to the test if New York State's eviction moratorium law expires on Jan. 15 — with more extensions unlikely. Building on an initiative pushed for by the City Council, the de Blasio administration ensured that every needy tenant facing eviction in the city has a right to a free attorney, funded by the government."
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