| | | | |  | | By Erin Durkin, Anna Gronewold and Deanna Garcia | Presented by CVS Health | Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected to announce today that the mask mandate for businesses is on its way out. It's set to expire tomorrow and otherwise would have required a deliberate renewal. The decision comes as several of Hochul's Democratic peers in states from California to New Jersey have separately announced they would end some of their mandates, and federal health officials begin shifting toward a "new normal," one where Covid-19 becomes a background presence rather than the dominant force. Yes, the sharp recent drop in cases is a good sign, though we'd rather not have the coronavirus lurking around at all. It means the state appears to be past the worst of the devastating winter surge of the highly contagious Omicron variant. The statewide requirement took effect when the first cases emerged in mid-December and mandated everyone age 2 and older to wear masks in indoor public settings, except at businesses or venues that mandate proof of full vaccination. It spurred legal challenges and a whole lot of grumpiness, even from those who recognized its necessity. But as of yesterday, officials still hadn't yet decided whether to scale back school facial covering requirements, a step that's also being taken by some neighboring states. Hochul has said she wants to see higher vaccine rates for children and Health Commissioner Mary Bassett told a panel of Senate and Assembly lawmakers that it's not a decision she's ready to make yet. "I am optimistic that we're trending in that direction," Bassett said. "But I still need the time, and I'm assessing. … It's just premature at this time to talk about it." IT'S WEDNESDAY. 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? Holding a Covid-19 briefing in Manhattan. WHERE'S ERIC? Testifying virtually before a state legislative budget hearing. ABOVE THE FOLD — Little groundwork laid for Adams' first Albany test, by POLITICO's Anna Gronewold: Wednesday will be Tin Cup Day at the state Capitol, the traditional time for mayors across New York to jangle virtual drinking vessels in front of the Legislature, insatiable for larger pours of state cash. But the main event — an hourslong grilling of the mayor of the nation's largest city — is unlikely to follow precedent with new New York City Mayor Eric Adams in the hot seat. It is the first time he will make his case for the city directly to state lawmakers as part of the state budget process, and Adams, a former state senator who's never shied from a show, has seemingly shunned conventional steps to ingratiate himself to powers that be in Albany. Since he's taken office, top Democrats in both Assembly and Senate majority conferences say they've had little to no interactions with Adams or his staff about how to accomplish mutual goals for New York City, though several have said they've run into him at social events in Manhattan. And it comes as Adams is pressing state legislative leaders to reform the state's bail laws and criminal justice measures, which they so far have rejected.
| | A message from CVS Health: Throughout the pandemic, in communities across the country, CVS Health has been there. We've opened more than 4,800 COVID-19 test sites, administered 41 million tests and given 50 million vaccines. We've expanded access to prenatal and postpartum care via telemedicine, increased remote access to mental health services and invested in affordable housing to help build healthier communities. We've been on the frontlines, making health care easier to access and afford. Learn more. | | | |  | What City Hall's reading | | " New York City considers making pandemic sidewalk dining rules permanent," by ABC News' Ivan Pereira: "As New York City gets closer to its goal of returning to a pre-pandemic way of life, elected officials are considering making one emergency order a permanent fixture. A New York City Council committee held its first hearing Tuesday on a bill requested by Mayor Eric Adams that would change the rules for restaurant outdoor seating permits that would allow for more businesses to provide a sidewalk seating option. City councilmember Marjorie Velazquez, the bill's co-sponsor, said during Tuesday's hearing that thousands of restaurants around the city were able to survive the pandemic because of outdoor dining and argued that the city needed to adapt to help owners stay afloat. ... However, some residents who have grown concerned over the noise, loss of street space and other trade-offs of sidewalk seating say this is one rule that shouldn't outlast the emergency order." — "We don't envision sheds in the permanent program. We are not planning for that," program director Julie Schipper testified . "What would be in the roadway [are] barriers and tents or umbrellas, but not these full houses that you're seeing in the street." How Eric Adams outmaneuvered Manhattan's beleaguered district attorney, by POLITICO's Amanda Eisenberg: New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg were elected to their respective positions in November after running on radically different messages about policing. Adams, the former NYPD captain, argued police officers should resume enforcing quality of life crimes such as graffiti and pushed a tough-on-crime message that helped him connect with voters in the outer boroughs. In Manhattan, home to progressive elites, Bragg vowed to pull back on prosecutions — even reducing some felony charges, including commercial robberies. — Bragg said Tuesday that going after gun crime is his "number one priority." " Why NYC isn't recording most at-home COVID tests — and what officials could be missing," by Gothamist's Nsikan Akpan: "The highly transmissible variant has propelled the use of at-home COVID-19 tests, especially when lines for in-person tests were hours long or difficult to book around the holiday season…But city officials are not tracking the results of the at-home tests, unlike other counties in New York and other major cities such as Washington D.C. and Austin, Texas. As Gothamist reported last week, this rise of the home kit is contributing to the sharpest drop in conventional testing that New York City has experienced during the pandemic." " 'Food is doing more injustice than mass incarceration': New York mayor Eric Adams on veganism," by Guardian's Ed Pilkington: "One morning in March 2016, before Eric Adams burst onto the national stage as the charismatic new mayor of New York City, he had a very rude awakening. The then Brooklyn borough president was startled to find that he could barely see the alarm clock that was sounding his morning call. His bedroom looked shrouded in mist. 'I thought it was just sleep in my eyes and my eyes adjusting to the light,' Adams says. 'But the cloudiness didn't change. Something wrong was going on here.' He leapt out of bed only for the horror to intensify. Through the fog he could see that his right eye was bloodshot. His left eye was totally blind."
| | | | HAPPENING THURSDAY – A LONG GAME CONVERSATION ON THE CLIMATE CRISIS : Join POLITICO for back-to-back conversations on climate and sustainability action, starting with a panel led by Global Insider author Ryan Heath focused on insights gleaned from our POLITICO/Morning Consult Global Sustainability Poll of citizens from 13 countries on five continents about how their governments should respond to climate change. Following the panel, join a discussion with POLITICO White House Correspondent Laura Barrón-López and Gina McCarthy, White House national climate advisor, about the Biden administration's climate and sustainability agenda. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | " Working Families Party Endorses Jumaane Williams for Governor ," by The New York Times' Nicholas Fandos: "New York's left-wing Democrats have cautiously eyed Kathy Hochul for months, watching and waiting to see how the state's new governor — a moderate from Buffalo — dealt with fraught policy disputes over the economy, housing and the coronavirus pandemic. On Tuesday, one of New York's progressive pillars, the Working Families Party, finally rendered a verdict: It endorsed Jumaane D. Williams, New York City's public advocate, in his long-shot primary challenge against Ms. Hochul. The decision was not unexpected. Mr. Williams has been a longtime ally of the Working Families Party, which is backed by an influential coalition of activists and labor unions. In recent years, it has helped push Democrats to the left and topple moderate incumbents in Washington, D.C.; New York City; and Albany, N.Y." " Ethics groups want investigation of free help Cuomo received ," by The Associated Press' Marina Villenueve: "Good government groups say New York's ethics commission should investigate whether former Gov. Andrew Cuomo broke the law by accepting free help from a group of former aides who worked to defend him against sexual harassment allegations. New York ethics law bans public officials from accepting gifts or services worth more than $15 from lobbyists and companies that do business with the state. Violators can face fines of up to $25,000 or the possibility of criminal charges. When Cuomo's first accusers came forward, he turned to a team of outside advisers — former members of his administration — who provided the Democrat with strategic advice and public relations help. Several of those ex-aides worked for companies that lobby the state or have had state contracts. New York's gift ban doesn't apply to family members or friends, and Cuomo's attorney, Jim McGuire, said simply seeking advice from longtime allies in a crisis breaks no law." — " Andrew Cuomo's mom, Matilda, has name restored to Mentoring Program," by New York Post's Carl Campanile: "Former New York first lady Matilda Cuomo has been uncanceled! The name of the 90-year-old mother of disgraced ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been reinstated to the website of the state Mentoring Program she founded and once headed." " Hochul Leads Pack of Candidates Who Fail to Disclose Sources of Corporate Cash," by New York Focus' Sam Mellins: "The state Board of Elections has failed to enforce a 2019 law requiring campaigns to disclose the identities of the individuals behind certain corporate donations, while campaigns across the state have flouted the law with impunity, an analysis by New York Focus found. The disclosure requirements have been breached by both Republican and Democratic candidates, including New York's most prolific fundraiser in 2021 — Gov. Kathy Hochul. This Thursday, Hochul will host a private fundraiser in New York City with attendance costing as much as $42,500 a head. The 2019 law mandates that candidates for office record the owners of all limited liability companies, or LLCs, that contribute to their campaigns, and attribute the contributions to those owners in proportion to how much of the LLC each one owns." IG ALERT: " Alleged legislative staff experiences the subject of new Instagram account," by Capitol Pressroom's David Lombardo: "The 'Dear NYS Staffer' account, which is modeled after a viral account sharing anecdotes from people of color working in Congress, was created to 'bring transparency and awareness to the working conditions of government employees across New York State,' but their focus is primarily on stories from the state Legislature, according to a post that was shared on Monday. In just a few days the account amassed more than 1,500 followers and generated dozens of alleged experiences of what it's like working for state lawmakers and as a member of central staff in both houses." THE PANDEMIC'S TOLL ON CITIES: POLITICO surveyed 25 mayors from around the country, including the mayors of New Rochelle and Niagara Falls, about what their cities want and need, and what it's like doing their jobs in these unprecedented times. New Rochelle's Noam Bramson weighed in on the housing crisis: "The affordable housing crisis is best regarded as a subset of the broader challenge of housing undersupply. Cities can play a key role in addressing this priority by encouraging transit-oriented development in compact, walkable areas." #UpstateAmerica: The Johnstown funeral home director who was wanted as part of an investigation into mishandling of human remains turned himself in.
| | | |   | | | | | TRUMP'S NEW YORK | | " Trump's Mar-a-Lago to hold fundraiser for NY GOP governor hopeful Lee Zeldin," by New York Post's Bernadette Hogan: "Republican gubernatorial candidate Rep. Lee Zeldin is scheduled to attend two high-dollar fundraisers thrown in his name – one with former Vice President Mike Pence and another at ex-President Donald Trump's swanky Palm Beach, Fla. golf club. Long Island Republicans Matthew and Kerri Beth Bruderman are hosting a Feb. 23 dinner soiree for Zeldin at 6 p.m. in the village of Centre Island in Nassau County, according to a copy of the invitation obtained by The Post. Tickets cost $25,000 per individual and Pence will appear as a special guest. Zeldin — the New York GOP's preferred candidate — is also on track for a 5:30 p.m. April 1 fundraiser at Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club."
| | AROUND NEW YORK | | — A plan to allow backdoor boarding on buses has failed to materialize nearly six months after being announced. — A New York couple was arrested and accused of conspiring to launder billions of dollars in cryptocurrency stolen from a hack of a virtual currency exchange. — The city approved plans for a sprawling $600-million movie studio in Queens led by film star Robert De Niro. — An 87-year-old town justice in Columbia County resigned amid an investigation into allegations he encouraged a teenage girl to have sex with his teenage son. — Now is the time for the state to prepare for the next economic shock, says Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. — Rep. Elise Stefanik defended the Republican National Committee's censure of colleagues Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger. — It's that time of year: Crow hazing is back in Watertown. — The transit workers union says rules banning large carts on the subway have not been enforced. — A 61-year-old grandmother from Queens woke up from a coma after being hit in the head by a rock almost two months ago. — The state Office of Cannabis Management sent cease-and-desist letters to more than two dozen businesses to demand they halt sales immediately.
| | | | 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: CNN's Manu Raju … Joseph Stiglitz … Eliza Griswold … Charles Luftig of ODNI … Dom Bartkus of BCW Global … Geoffrey Young … Jessica Ross … Amanda Whiting … Patrick Rizzo … David Silver … Stuart Sweeney … Peter Hatch MAKING MOVES — Mayor Eric Adams named Jessica Carrano to be his director of city legislative affairs, Christopher Ellis as director of state legislative affairs, and Lisa Lashley as director of appointments. … Arva Rice has been named interim chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board. She is president and CEO of the New York Urban League and joined the board in 2021. … James Rausse has been named planning commissioner for the City of Mount Vernon. He most recently was director of planning and development in the Office of the Bronx Borough President. WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Monica Alba, a White House correspondent for NBC News, and Dan Merica, a national political reporter for CNN, welcomed Denver Manuel Merica on Friday. He came in at 8 lbs, 1 oz and 21.5 inches. Denver is a family name on Dan's maternal side, honoring his great-grandfather Denver Dickerson, and Manuel is Monica's dad's name. Pic FOR YOUR RADAR — Per POLITICO Influence: THE CIVIL LIBERTY TO SILICON VALLEY PIPELINE: "The tight-knit civil liberties advocacy community has helped shepherd through the most significant reforms to government surveillance over the past decade. But a growing number of experienced civil liberties and privacy activists have taken jobs at major tech companies in recent years, even as the data collection and practices of tech companies and the government come under increasing scrutiny," Emily Birnbaum and Daniel report … — "According to their analysis of recent departures, at least nine high-level advocates focused on government surveillance, data ethics and privacy have left civil society to work at major tech companies since 2019, including four in the past year alone. Five in all went to Meta, two left for Microsoft and the other two went to Apple and Twitter. The transitions have split the civil liberties advocacy community, with some glad to see advocates getting roles with major platforms and others expressing alarm at the trend."
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Healthier Happens Together. Learn more. | | | | | Real Estate | | " Families sue building owners over Bronx fire that killed 17 ," by The Associated Press' Bobby Caina Calvin and Ted Shaffrey: "Several families whose loved ones died or were critically injured while trying to escape a smoked-filled Bronx apartment building sued the owners Tuesday, alleging safety violations that led to the wrongful deaths of 17 people, including eight children. The five lawsuits were filed on behalf of the families by Benjamin Crump, a high-profile civil rights attorney based in Florida, and the New York law firm Weitz & Luxenberg." " For homeless New Yorkers, new rule puts housing just out of reach ," by Gothamist's Chau Lam: "For Nakeema, life was beginning to look promising nearly a year after first experiencing homelessness. The Brooklyn mother and her children found a two-bedroom apartment in Kew Gardens, Queens with a landlord who accepted her city-issued rental-assistance voucher, a program meant to help homeless New Yorkers find permanent housing. The rent was $2,217 a month, the maximum she could get for a family of three. … But Nakeema's plans were upended in January when a caseworker told her the city wouldn't pay the maximum rent unless it also covered all utilities, including electricity." | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | 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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