| | | | | |  | | By Erin Durkin, Anna Gronewold and Deanna Garcia | Presented by Equinor | Eric Adams is entering day three as mayor of New York City, but without the traditional pomp and circumstance of a mayoral inauguration. His swearing in, after planned festivities were canceled due to the latest Covid-19 surge, underscored the challenges he will face in his first months in office: taking over city government as it battles record-high infections, rising hospitalizations, and new economic disruptions. Adams took the oath just after the ball dropped in Times Square, holding up a photograph of his late mother. Adams' first weekend in office featured a crash course in the challenges and emergencies faced by every mayor, including an NYPD officer shot in East Harlem and his first snowstorm briefing. He took the subway from Brooklyn on day one, stopping to call 911 to report a fist fight he witnessed on the street, and biked from Gracie Mansion on day two. In his first address to New Yorkers as mayor, streamed live from City Hall, Adams declared: "Despite Covid-19 and its persistence, New York is not closed. It is still open and alive because New Yorkers are more resilient than the pandemic." | 
Eric Adams is sworn in as mayor of New York City on the stage of the New Year's Eve celebration in New York's Times Square on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted) | Robert Bumsted/AP Photo | Today, he'll confront the difficulties of putting those words into action as he reopens schools with a new set of protocols in place to cope with the surge, which are drawing their share of criticism. Adams plans to head to a school in the Bronx with his new schools chancellor this morning, and on Sunday urged parents not to fear sending their kids back to the classroom. "The safest place for children, based on the data, is inside a school building," he said. IT'S MONDAY. Happy New Year! The state's Independent State Redistricting Commission is meeting for a possible vote to send map proposals and reports to the Legislature. We'll let you know how that goes. 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? Giving a Covid-19 briefing in Rochester. WHERE'S ERIC? Appearing on MSNBC, Fox 5, Pix 11 and NY1, and visiting Concourse Village Elementary School in the Bronx. WELCOME ABOARD: POLITICO is welcoming a powerhouse duo to lead our New York team. Julia Marsh, the New York Post's City Hall bureau chief and former legal correspondent, and Joe Spector, the USA Today Network's Atlantic Region government accountability and politics editor, will join us this month as New York editors. Julia will be based in New York City when she begins on Jan. 11. Joe will be based in Albany when he starts on Jan. 4. At the USA TODAY Network, he has overseen coverage in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. | | | | 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 | | De Blasio became NYC mayor with high hopes, leaves with confounding record, by POLITICO's Sally Goldenberg: Bill de Blasio promised a transformation so extraordinary, New Yorkers would scarcely recognize their city if they elected him mayor. No longer would the upper crust gallivant around, untethered to the problems plaguing the masses. He would tax a relative few to expand pre-K for all, force developers to build affordable housing and rein in the nation's most powerful police department. After 20 years of Republican mayors, New Yorkers decided to take their chances on a Democratic political operative turned politician — one who had violated a U.S. travel ban to honeymoon in Cuba and raised money for Nicaraguan revolutionaries. They seemed keen enough on his principles to shrug off questions about his management credentials. Eight years later, supporters and detractors alike are confounded by what became of a man who assumed the mayoralty at a time of prosperity and is leaving office amid a crisis of immeasurable proportion. In a phrase, it's complicated. — "De Blasio's Costly Legacy: The Biggest City Work Force Ever," by The New York Times' Emma G. Fitzsimmons: "Under Mr. de Blasio, the city's budget has soared to a record $102.8 billion, and the city work force rose to more than 325,000 employees, its highest level ever." — A tipsy Andy Cohen unloaded on de Blasio during CNN's New Year's Eve coverage. " Why Eric Adams and Kathy Hochul 'Need Each Other,'" by The New York Times' Jeffery C. Mays: "In theory, the governor and the mayor of the nation's largest city should have each other's interests at heart; one can rarely prosper without the other. Yet that has not always been the case in New York, where conflicting political parties and personalities have often caused rifts. … Ms. Hochul and Mr. Adams, both Democrats, seem intent on trying again, and both have compelling reasons to do so. Mr. Adams takes office as the city faces a resurgence of the coronavirus and a raft of issues that may rely on the state's assistance. Ms. Hochul needs support from Black, Latino and moderate voters in New York City, the same base that Mr. Adams cultivated to become mayor, as she faces a moderate opponent and two likely challengers to her left in a June primary." "NYC's EMS staff crisis leads to new orders to urge stable patients to stay home," by New York Post's Rich Calder and Susan Edelman: "The city's ambulance corps are so understaffed because of the COVID-19 surge, they're now under new orders to try to convince stable patients with flu-like symptoms not to go to the hospital. The directive from the FDNY puts EMS crews on notice that 'effective immediately, stable patients with influenza-like illness … should not be transported to a 911-receiving facility' unless they meet certain criteria: being over 65 years old, having a fever above 100.4 degrees or a history of diabetes or heart conditions, according to a copy obtained by The Post." — "Omicron is overwhelming New York's quarantine hotel system," by The New York Times' Andy Newman: "For much of the pandemic, one way New York City has tried to slow the coronavirus's spread is by offering free hotel rooms to infected people who cannot easily isolate themselves from those they live with. But the sheer number of people who are sick with the Omicron variant may be overwhelming the hotel program — both for the general public and another for people in homeless shelters." — "Multiple subway lines will be out of commission for the first workday of the year on Monday as COVID-19 surges among the MTA's workforce, transit officials said." — Adams said he is considering mandating booster shots for city employees. "Mayor Eric Adams voices concerns about NYC's non-citizen voting bill," by New York Post's Julia Marsh: "Mayor Adams expressed reservations about a controversial bill passed under his predecessor that grants green card holders the right to vote in local elections. 'We're going to look at the bill,' Adams told reporters Saturday at a press conference in Queens during his first day in office. 'One part of the bill I'm concerned about, the 30-day part. If someone is in the city for 30 days, they have the right to vote. That's problematic to me,' said Adams, who had previously supported the legislation passed by a large majority of the City Council early last month." "Behind the Violence at Rikers, Decades of Mismanagement and Dysfunction," by The New York Times' Jan Ransom and Bianca Pallaro: "The leaders of the New York City Department of Correction had already lost control over Rikers Island this fall when they went in search of one small measure of relief. They needed 19 correction officers whom they had posted at the Queens criminal courthouse to fill in at the massive jail complex, where staffing was short, slashings and stabbings were up and detainees had gained control over some housing units. It was Columbus Day, a holiday, and the workload at the Queens courthouse was comparatively light. But when the bus to Rikers arrived at the courthouse, many of the guards refused to board it." | | | | 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 | | It's Hochul's time after months of dealing with Cuomo fallout, by POLITICO's Anna Gronewold: She's been governor of New York for more than four momentous months. But Kathy Hochul will truly claim the title next week, when she becomes the first woman in New York history to deliver a State of the State speech. The last quarter or so of 2021 has been a mop-up operation for Hochul, 63, who took over in Albany when Andrew Cuomo resigned last August. In the months since, she has had to deal with the aftermath of her predecessor's abrupt departure and now-toxic legacy — while, at the same time, dealing with the very issue that made Cuomo a national figure, the Covid-19 pandemic. But on Jan. 5, Hochul will set out her own legislative priorities, seeking to put her stamp on the office she inherited while invigorating her campaign to win a term in her own right in 2022. The annual speech remains one of the highlights of New York's political calendar, but it doesn't carry the same grandeur it used to. "AOC Campaign Aide Announces Primary Challenge to Michael Benedetto for Bronx Assembly Seat," by The City's Claudia Irizarry Aponte: "Flush with campaign funds from supporters across the nation, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-The Bronx/Queens) pivoted to community service during the pandemic, linking volunteer tutors with hundreds of children facing learning disruptions. Homework Helpers was the brainchild of her campaign staffer Jonathan Soto, a public school parent in Throggs Neck. Now Soto, like AOC four years ago, is waging a primary challenge to take on an entrenched Democratic incumbent: in this case, northeastern Bronx Assemblymember Michael Benedetto. Soto is expected to announce his Assembly candidacy on Monday." "N.Y. Mandates Boosters for CUNY, SUNY Students Before January Return," by Bloomberg's Fola Akinnibi: "New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a new mandate for students at state-run universities, requiring booster doses before they return to campus in January. The new mandate covers more than half a million students at the State University of New York and the City University of New York systems. … Hochul also imposed a new vaccine requirement for faculty at the two school systems, until now exempt from any mandate." — "New York's COVID-19 cases continue to soar, hitting 85,476, the latest state numbers show." "New data shows nearly 4 percent of people out due to bail changes were rearrested for violent felonies ," by Times Union's Joshua Solomon and Brendan J. Lyons: "In the first full year after New York banned detaining people on a vast number of criminal charges, there were nearly 100,000 cases in which adults were released after being charged with offenses for which judges previously could have set bail or ordered them held in custody. Among the cases, those released went on to be arrested again for alleged violent felony charges about 4 percent of the time, according to a Times Union analysis of newly published state data. In about 1 percent of the cases, the individuals released were arrested again on violent felony charges involving a firearm while their initial cases were pending." "State hits minority construction milestone, but questions of fraud persist," by Buffalo News' Charlie Specht: "State leaders celebrated in December after achieving an ambitious goal set by former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo: awarding 30% of state construction contracts to businesses owned by minorities and women." #UpstateAmerica: The Atlanta Falcons were treated to genuine Buffalo wings during their visit to take on the Bills on Sunday. (One of the Falcons had insisted that Atlanta had the best wings. He recanted.) | | | | A message from Equinor:   | | |
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | "Schumer asks Biden to prioritize New York for COVID-19 antiviral drugs," by New York Post's David Meyer: "The Biden administration should direct the limited supply of Tamiflu-like COVID-19 antiviral drugs to states like New York that have been hard hit by the Omicron variant, Sen. Chuck Schumer said Sunday. 'It's a new weapon that we have to fight this Omicron COVID-19,' Schumer said of two new drugs recently approved by the FDA during a press briefing in Manhattan." "Rep. Adriano Espaillat in quarantine after positive COVID test — his second in a year ," by New York Post's Mary Kay Linge: "New York Rep. Adriano Espaillat is in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 — again. The 67-year-old Democrat, who represents northern Manhattan and the Bronx, announced Saturday that he contracted a second asymptomatic case of the coronavirus, one year after his first bout with the illness. Both cases occurred after he had received a full course of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, he said — including a booster shot 'earlier this winter.'" | | AROUND NEW YORK | | — Children under the age of 12 will no longer face arrest and prosecution for virtually any crime in New York under a bill Hochul signed into law. — Upstate minimum wage increased to $13.20 an hour. — New York's ban on styrofoam took effect. — For the first time, outdoor smoking will be prohibited at this year's State Fair. — The Coney Island Polar Bears took the traditional New Year's Day plunge after a pandemic hiatus last year. — The unofficial "mayor" of Coney Island was fired by Coney Island USA , the group he co-founded. — The company that runs boats to the Statue of Liberty has been turning customers away due to limited dock space after a wharf in Battery Park was shut down. — The launch of a ferry route to Coney Island has been pushed back to late 2022. — "Mrs. Doubtfire" on Broadway is closing for nine weeks due to pandemic losses. — Governors Island is hosting winter activities for its first season open to the public year-round. — Billionaire Ron Lauder is running a radio ad criticizing Hochul for advancing a proposal to allow any voter to vote absentee. — A city tobacco inspector is fighting to get her job back after she was fired for cursing out a Bronx bodega owner who allegedly used racist and sexist slurs. | | | | 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: NYT's Marc Tracy … "Chef" Geoff Tracy … McKinsey's Jonathan Spaner … Kenneth Prager ... Richard Ben-Veniste … Erik Larson … Samantha Segan … Verizon's Chris DeBosier … former Treasury Secretary W. Michael Blumenthal is 96 ENGAGED — Mike Bloomberg, founder of Groundwork Data and a member of Eric Adams' transition team, recently proposed to Tamar Katz, a 2nd year law student at Columbia. Bloomberg, whose cousin is former Mayor Mike Bloomberg, popped the question in front of family and friends at Vini e Fritti, the Union Square Hospitality-owned wine bar in the Redbury hotel. The couple met on the Alex Morse campaign. Pic ... Another pic MAKING MOVES — Samantha (Tartas) Seitz has been promoted to be manager for North America PR at Boston Consulting Group. She most recently was lead for North America PR at the firm. … Karen Sorady has left as New York State's chief information security officer. … David Lerner is now chief IT officer at Morrison Cohen. He most recently was a partner at the firm. | | | | 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 | | "In 2021, New York's Housing Market Made a Stunning Comeback," by The New York Times' Stefanos Chen: "A year ago, while most of the country was seeing record home sales and prices, driven by low mortgage rates and roaming office workers, New York was on the outside looking in: Sales and rentals plummeted, and doomsayers predicted the city's demise. Not anymore. In a remarkably sharp turnaround, the sales and rental markets are approaching or, in some cases, exceeding prepandemic prices. More apartments were sold in Manhattan in the third quarter of 2021 than at any other time in the last 32 years. Sales in Brooklyn and Queens pushed further into record territory. And some renters, who took advantage of deep discounts just a year ago, are now facing the sticker shock of 30 or 40 percent rent hikes." "NYC squatters driving neighbors nuts with 'very loud' sex, suit says," by New York Post's Kathianne Boniello: "A pair of alleged squatters have soured life for neighbors in a Chelsea building with 'very loud' sex and wall-shaking arguments, a lawsuit alleges. Longtime city employee Andrew Brokman, 32, and Joseph Cignarale, 28, have brought 'rampant drug use, fighting, screaming, and overall nuisance' to 216 Seventh Ave., where they've failed to pay any rent for more than a year, legal papers claim."
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