Hochul and Adams together again: This time on cleaning up the subways

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Feb 18, 2022 View in browser   By Joseph Spector and Anna Gronewold Presented by Healthcare Education Project This is something you would have not seen a year ago: The New York City mayor and the governor working together in public to solve an issue. But, on Friday, Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams joined hands yet again and pledged to find a solution to a problem that evaded both of their predecessors: A "humanitarian crisis" on the city's subways that's gained visibility amid a spike in violent crimes committed by people in mental health crises. The two announcedthat the subway would no longer be a place for anything but transportation, and a "comprehensive civic strategy" to get homeless people from the subways and into housing or treatment will begin next week. It will include a team aimed at connecting people with services using a combination of state regulations — such as court-ordered mental health care — and simpler, human connections with city workers. Officials promised that the people who will have interactions with cops and other government workers will not be immediately criminalized. But they also emphasized that stricter measures are necessary to quell rising nervousness about using public transport. Hochul said the state is allocating about $10 million in additional funding to help the effort. She wants to offer up to $150,000 in loan forgiveness for medical staff who come to New York to work in psych units. She also wants to budget $25 million for psych beds statewide and $12 million for supportive housing. Adams says he has been attempting to pursue a delicate balance of both justice and safety as he starts in on his own policy agendas. On Friday, he took the more rigid tone of a disappointed parent — though it was unclear exactly who he was chiding — in saying that there will be zero tolerance for activities such as drug use, smoking or riders sleeping on subway seats. "Those days are over," he said. "Swipe your MetroCard, ride the system and get off at your destination." HAPPY FRIDAY: Welcome back and thanks for reading our second annual installment of PM Playbook, an afternoon check-in to spill the day's tea — as we know it thus far — during one of the busiest seasons in New York politics.   A message from Healthcare Education Project: When COVID-19 hit New York, frontline healthcare workers answered the call. But as the system was stretched to the limit and New Yorkers struggled to find care, greedy health insurers pocketed billions. Despite these record profits, insurers are back squeezing hospitals for more. Doctors and caregivers can no longer survive on razor thin margins. Join us and help stop for-profit insurers from getting between doctors and their patients. Learn more.   The Campaign Trail ADDING TO CAMPAIGN STAFF: Fernando Ferrer, the former Bronx Borough president, will serve as campaign chairman for Rep. Tom Suozzi's gubernatorial run, bringing another key Latino voice to the Democrat's candidacy. The move comes two days after Suozzi tapped Diana Reyes, a former City Council member, as his running mate with the hope of making her the first Latino statewide elected official. Suozzi also made his first TV ad buy this week, he said. "I am honored that Fernando Ferrer has agreed to serve as our campaign chairman and will help us continue to grow our people-powered campaign, especially in the Latino community," Suozzi said in a statement. SPEAKING OF SUOZZI: So even Hillary Clinton couldn't talk Suozzi out of running for governor, he told reporters Thursday. That means his congressional seat is up for grabs in a newly drawn district that runs from Long Island to Westchester. And it means a bevy of interest from prospective House members. So you can add Curtis Silwa, the Republican firebrand, to the mix of potential hopefuls. Silwa said Friday he's considering a run — particularly because of his disdain for state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, a progressive Democrat who has supported efforts to toughen laws governing police conduct. From the 3rd Floor IMPACT IN THE SUBURBS: Suburban voters are key to any statewide election, and Hochul got a dose of their influence in recent weeks as she proposed two sweeping measures that would impact zoning and ordinances for affordable housing. The proposals, which would add more apartments near commuter rails and rezone homes to allow for more rental dwellings, was met with swift rebukes from suburban lawmakers, Democrats and Republicans. In her 30-day amendments today, both were removed, and Hochul cited the opposition, saying she wants to listen to local leaders. (It's another indication she's doing what former Gov. Andrew Cuomo did not). Still, Hochul's decision shouts of victory from her foes. "Huge victory for suburban New Yorkers," Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin, a Long Island congressman, said in a statement. "Kathy Hochul has withdrawn her awful proposal to end single family housing. We need less Hochul control and more local control."     On the Beats LAWSUITS AGAINST CUOMO START: The first of what will likely be a succession of lawsuits against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is underway. The first came late Thursday from a state trooper who claims Cuomo regularly harassed and groped her and even hired her because of her looks. Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi rejected the lawsuit and the charges. WERE YOU A LUCKY WINNER? Probably not, but the state was. After slowing during the first months of the Covid-19 pandemic, state lottery revenue soared back to new heights in 2021, topping $10.5 billion for the first time, according to figures released Friday. And this doesn't even include the record betting from mobile sports betting that started Jan. 8 WHAT'S NEW IS OLD AGAIN: Just a final word on the Democratic convention. Yes, there is a new governor not named Cuomo for the first time in 11 years, but to Democratic upstarts, the convention felt a lot like those of years past: A well-choreographed affair designed more to celebrate the Democratic leader than allow for any public debate over the party's direction. AROUND NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams has joined the call of Hochul and other leaders to encourage companies to have their workers return to the office to help the city's economy. — Gov. Kathy Hochul said " a whole new day is dawning" when she accepted the Democratic nomination for governor Thursday. — New York is one of three states with shuttered nuclear plants to see emissions rise . In New York, that would be Indian Point in Westchester. — Attendance is at record heights at New York parks and campgrounds, so it's never too soon to book a camping spot this summer. — And for all you cold weather New Yorkers, a reminder: don't leave your unused Covid tests in the frigid temperatures, like in the mailbox, over the weekend or something. They could be rendered ineffective.   A message from Healthcare Education Project: Whether it's increasing out-of-pocket expenses, denying claims, or excluding hospitals and caregivers from their networks, greedy, for-profit insurance companies have been profiting off of hardworking New Yorkers for too long. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, heroic frontline healthcare workers stepped up, saved lives, and kept families healthy. But the pandemic devastated our entire healthcare system and pushed it to the brink. Even as New Yorkers struggled to find care and healthcare workers made gut-wrenching sacrifices to fight the pandemic, insurers put profits ahead of patients - muscling the doctors and hospitals that saved lives during COVID-19. Last year the top 10 health insurers pocketed more than $40 billion. Join our movement to demand NYS lawmakers put patients before profits. Learn more.     Follow us on Twitter Anna Gronewold @annagronewold Joseph Spector @JoeSpectorNY   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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