| | | | |  | | By Erin Durkin, Anna Gronewold and Deanna Garcia | Presented by Healthcare Education Project | It's looking a bit less likely that former President Donald Trump will face criminal charges in New York after a shakeup in the Manhattan District Attorney's office that saw the two prosecutors leading the Trump investigation exit. Carey Dunne and Mark Pomerantz submitted their resignations, the DA's office has confirmed. It's the latest setback for freshman DA Alvin Bragg, who has already had a rocky first few weeks in office, embroiled in controversy over policies he implemented to curtail prosecutions for many offenses. A lot remains unclear about the status of the Trump case, which centers on allegations he inflated the value of his assets, and the circumstances under which the two prosecutors quit. But according to The New York Times, which first reported the departures, they left after Bragg indicated he had doubts about moving forward with a case against the former president. The Trump Organization itself and its chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, were criminally charged last summer with running an off-the-books compensation scheme allowing top execs to avoid taxes. That came after Bragg's predecessor Cy Vance won an epic legal fight to get his hands on Trump's tax returns. The hope seems to have been that Weisselberg would flip and cooperate against Trump or his family. But there's no indication that has happened, making any case against Trump much harder to prove. With the future of the criminal case in doubt, Attorney General Tish James, whose office has been working in concert with the Manhattan DA, continues to pursue a civil case on similar allegations. That one's moving full steam ahead: The attorney general plans to question Trump and two of his adult children after a judge ruled last week they must sit for depositions. 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'S KATHY? Holding a storm briefing in Valhalla and an economic roundtable in the Bronx and speaking at a Korean American Day Celebration. WHERE'S ERIC? Speaking at a Black history month event at the New York Botanical Garden.
| | | | 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. | | | |  | What City Hall's reading | | "Mayor Adams plans to soon phase out NYC's indoor COVID vaccine and mask rules," by New York Daily News' Chris Sommerfeldt: "Mayor Adams hinted Wednesday that he will soon roll back the city's coronavirus vaccine and mask mandates for indoor settings as infection rates continue to drop across New York. The mayor didn't give an exact timeline for when he envisions ending the longstanding pandemic precautions, but said at an unrelated press conference in Brooklyn that rescinding them are top priorities for him. 'Yes, and I can't wait to get it done,' Adams said when asked if he plans to phase out the city's indoor vaccine mandate for dining, fitness and other activities. Unprompted, Adams then suggested he's also looking to relax or even outright scrap the city's requirements and guidelines on mask-wearing." — "Some NYC students worry about return to remote learning if mask mandate is lifted," by Staten Island Advance's Priya Shahi " Top NYC Mayor Adams adviser Frank Carone linked to felons in records related to health care business," by New York Daily News' Michael Gartland and Chris Sommerfeldt: "When his friendship with a known felon came to light recently, Mayor Adams defended himself — and his friend. Adams cast his relationship with businessman Zhan 'Johnny' Petrosyants as innocuous and dismissed the idea that his pal 'should be discarded forever' because he and his twin brother, Robert, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cause the filing of false currency transaction reports in 2014. But while his relationship with Adams may be social in nature, the Daily News has learned that Johnny Petrosyants and his brother have ties to a key player in the mayor's inner circle that may extend beyond camaraderie. Court records unearthed by The News reveal a connection between the Petrosyants brothers and a business that was controlled by Frank Carone, Adams' chief of staff and longtime political confidant." "Adams appoints Industry City CEO to head economic development agency after leading candidate withdraws," by Gothamist's Elizabeth Kim: "Andrew Kimball, who is in charge of the Brooklyn waterfront complex known as Industry City, will become the head of New York City's Economic Development Corporation (EDC), Mayor Eric Adams announced Wednesday. In his new role as president of the EDC, Kimball will lead the city's main economic development agency that seeks to attract new companies and industries. His appointment comes after the leading candidate, New York Building Congress CEO Carlos Scissura, withdrew from consideration amid a report by The City that he engaged in illegal lobbying practices on behalf of a developer." "MTA: Platform barrier pilot program to launch in three stations," by NY1's Erica Brosnan: "The MTA will soon be installing platform doors at three subway stations, according to MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber. The platform doors will be installed in the Times Square, Third Avenue and Sutphin Boulevard-JFK stations for the 7, L and E lines, MTA officials said Wednesday. Speaking on 'Mornings On 1,' Lieber said the MTA identified the three stations as locations where the engineering needed for platform barriers can work, adding that it could not currently work at 'a lot of stations.' The pilot program would create a barrier between the platform and the tracks to prevent people from falling or being pushed onto the tracks. The move by the MTA comes after a series of incidents in which multiple people were shoved off subway platforms, including 40-year-old Michelle Alyssa Go, who was killed by an incoming train in January." "Ex-NYPD union president pleads not guilty to fraud charge," by The Associated Press' Michael R. Sisak: "A former New York City police union president who's clashed with city officials over his insulting tweets and combative behavior was ordered released on $250,000 bail Wednesday after pleading not guilty to a charge that he fraudulently took hundreds of thousands of dollars from his union by filing phony expense reports. Ed Mullins resigned in October as head of the Sergeants Benevolent Association after the FBI searched the union's Manhattan office and his Long Island home. He retired from the NYPD in November, a month after he was placed on modified duty and forced to give up his gun and badge because of the raids."
| | | | JOIN TODAY TO HEAR FROM MAYORS ACROSS AMERICA: The Fifty: America's Mayors will convene mayors from across the country to discuss their policy agendas, including the enforcement of Covid measures such as vaccine and mask mandates. We'll also discuss how mayors are dealing with the fallout of the pandemic on their local economies and workforce, affordable housing and homelessness, and criminal justice reforms. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | "Lee Zeldin taps Alison Esposito as running mate in bid for NY governor," by New York Post's Carl Campanile, Maggie Hicks and Craig McCarthy: "Presumptive Republican front-runner for governor Lee Zeldin selected a veteran female NYPD inspector as his running mate for lieutenant governor — elevating public safety as a campaign issue for the statehouse. Zeldin tapped Alison Esposito, deputy inspector at the 70th Precinct in Brooklyn, to be his No. 2 as he seeks the nomination to take on Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. Esposito is retiring from the police department to run for public office. She joined the force in 1997. Last year, she considered running for mayor of New York City. 'Time and again we've heard politicians talk about what they're going to do to fight crime. Well, I've actually done it,' Esposito said Wednesday during a press conference at 1 Police Plaza." " Hochul Proposes Bringing Back Private Prison Labor," by New York Focus' Lauren Gill: "As part of her executive budget, Governor Kathy Hochul included a proposal that takes aim at low prison wages—not by paying them more in their current jobs, where they're employed by the state, but by passing a constitutional amendment to overturn New York's century-old ban on private employment of incarcerated people. Hochul argues that private employers would pay higher wages—the same wages that would be offered for comparable work outside prison—and offer more job training. The measure is part of a broad agenda she has proposed, dubbed "Jails to Jobs," to reform the state's reentry system and help people secure jobs and housing after they're released from prison or jail. The proposal has led to something of a fissure in the criminal justice reform movement." " N.Y. public school enrollment expected to drop sharply for 2nd consecutive year," by Times Union's Rachel Silberstein: "New York's K-12 public schools are expected to see a substantial drop in enrollment for the second year in a row, for a total decline of 5 percent since the start of the pandemic, preliminary enrollment data posted to the state Education Department last month shows. The public school system lost 60,000 students — 2.38 percent of the total student population—in the past year alone, according to the latest figures analyzed and mapped by the Empire Center for Public Policy. State Education Department officials warn against comparing this year's preliminary enrollment numbers with last year's finalized enrollment data." "WFP vs the machine take two," by City & State's Rebecca C. Lewis: "Another battle between opposing factions in Brooklyn is brewing around the Assembly seat recently vacated by Diana Richardson, a well-known critic of the Brooklyn Democratic Party. For the second time in about a month, Democrats and the Working Families Party are at odds in the borough, backing two different candidates for the March 22 special election. After a meeting of party officials last night, City & State exclusively learned that the WFP has decided to run Jelanie DeShong on its line against Brian Cunningham, who overwhelmingly won the Democratic Party line in a County Committee vote held on Sunday." "DiNapoli: NY's 'green economy' push created one million jobs," by NY1's Nick Reisman: "A focus on the green economy sector has created more than 1 million jobs over two years, a report released Wednesday by Comptroller Tom DiNapoli found. The report, assessing the impact on environmental and sustainability projects launched by the state, also found jobs in the 'green' sector composed 17% of all employment in New York prior to the pandemic in 2020." #UpstateAmerica: The new Finger Lakes Winter Carnival around Canandaigua Lake in March will feature a perfect trifecta of fireworks, ice bars and wine.
| | | | A message from Healthcare Education Project:   | | | | | FEELING '22 | | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: A progressive Brooklyn coalition today is backing Samy Nemir Olivares ' run for the 54th Assembly district. Nemir Olivares — who identifies as a queer, Latinx community organizer — is challenging Erik Dilan in the June primary. Today's endorsements include: Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, state Sen. Julia Salazar, NYC Council Members Jennifer Gutiérrez, Sandy Nurse and Lincoln Restler, and District Leaders Kristina Naplatarski and Emile Bazile. Make the Road Action, New York Communities for Change, Churches United for Fair Housing and The Jewish Vote also threw their support behind Nemir Olivares.
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | " N.Y. Working Families Party announce endorsements for the NYC congressional delegation ," by New York Daily News' Michael McCauliff: "The New York Working Families Party is moving to shore up four of their New York City congressional favorites, rolling out endorsements for incumbents facing newly redrawn districts, the Daily News has learned. The progressive-leaning party is set to put its stamp of approval on Democrats Reps. Nydia Velazquez, Jamaal Bowman, Mondaire Jones and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez."
| | AROUND NEW YORK | | — An audit by the city comptroller found that few retailers were investigated for price gouging on supplies like masks and hand sanitizer in the early months of the pandemic. — City Comptroller Brad Lander and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams condemned Adams' appointments of officials with anti-gay views. — The New York Hall of Science finally reopened after nearly two years shut down for the pandemic and then storm damage. — Broadway will continue to require masks for audience members through at least the end of April. — Columbia University suspended the chair of its psychiatry department after he posted a racist tweet. — Former City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley launched a bid for state Senate in a newly redrawn district. — New York has the second-highest union membership rate in the country. — More than 100 public school students protested what they view as excessive discipline. — A Schenectady County Family Court judge was punished for using her secretary to plan her daughter's bat mitzvah celebration. — The City of Buffalo is set to pay out about $2.4 million in personal injury and general litigation claims, including $90,000 to a woman who was fired after she said she was sexually harassed. — The union that represents more than 1,000 law enforcement officers at public college and university campuses, the Department of Environmental Conservation and the state parks system has agreed to a new contract . — Assemblymember Ron Kim asked for communities targeted in hate crimes to be given free taxi rides and walking buddies trained in martial arts.
| | | | 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: Jacqueline Alemany … former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Kelly Craft is 6-0 … former Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) is 8-0 … JPMorgan Chase's Allison Branca … Bruce Andrews … SKDK's Karen Olick … Blake Waggoner … Sabrina Tavernise … Karen Persichilli Keogh of Gov. Kathy Hochul's office … Paula Zahn … Liza Rebold … Edelman's Henry Krause … Howard Bragman … Jennifer Kerns MEDIAWATCH — Bhaskar Sunkara has been named president at The Nation. He is the founder and publisher of Jacobin. The announcement — Sarah Palin will seek a new trial in her unsuccessful defamation suit against the New York Times. MAKING MOVES — Ravesa Bajo has been appointed executive director for policy initiatives and special projects at the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs. She previously worked at City Hall as a senior policy adviser to the deputy mayor for operations. … Goldman Sachs' Akif Irfan, McKinsey's Kyle Hutzler and Megan O'Neill of Microsoft's UN affairs office have been named members of the Class of 2022 for Aspen Strategy Group's Rising Leaders Program. … ... The Council for Economic Education elected Rebecca Patterson, chief investment strategist of the massive Bridgewater Associates asset management firm, as its new board chair. She succeeds Barry Haimes, managing partner of Sage Asset Management, who will continue to serve on the organization's board. (h/t Morning Education) … Howard Alan Zucker, the former New York state health commissioner, joined APCO Worldwide's International Advisory Council as a senior counselor. … Orriel Richardson, a House Ways and Means Committee attorney, has left for Morgan Health, JPMorgan's health care arm. Richardson was previously a Democratic counsel for the committee's health subcommittee. (h/t POLITICO Pulse) ... Saule Omarova is joining the Roosevelt Institute as a senior fellow. She is the Beth and Marc Goldberg Professor of Law at Cornell University. OUT AND ABOUT: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was out drinking an espresso martini with Starbucks Workers United in New York City. ... — Former VP Mike Pence was on Long Island on Wednesday to fundraise for New York GOP gubernatorial candidate Rep. Lee Zeldin at the Centre Island home of Matt and Kerri Bruderman. The event was expected to raise $500,000. Prior to the fundraiser, Pence taped a segment for Sean Hannity's show (who has a home on Long Island). (h/t POLITICO Playbook)
| | | | 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. | | | | | Real Estate | | " 'Eco-Yogi Slumlords' Give Up BK Building In $2.3M Settlement: AG," by Patch's Anna Quinn: "The 'eco-yogi slumlords' who tried to evict Brooklyn tenants in the middle of the pandemic must hand over their Dean Street property in a new $2.25 million settlement, according to officials. Gennaro Brooks-Church and Loretta Gendville were ordered to give up the 1214 Dean St. rowhouse, which the city will convert to affordable housing, Mayor Eric Adams and Attorney General Letitia James announced in a joint statement. The Dean Street home — designated a single-family home but leased by the pair by the room — was one of nine Brooklyn buildings Brooks-Church and Gendville illegally rented out over four years, court records show." "When Private Equity Came Knocking, Bronx Renters Given Two Options: Buy or Get Out," by The City's Claudia Irizarry Aponte: "Hundreds of tenants at eight Bronx and Manhattan co-op buildings are at-risk of eviction after a private equity firm announced last year that it would not renew their leases and instead sell the rental units. The tenants, many of whom are low-income families or retirees, were given the option to buy their apartments, now owned by Glacier Equities, or leave. In November 2020, Glacier purchased a collection of 255-residential unit 'unsold shares' in co-operative buildings in Norwood, Fordham, Bedford Park and Spuyten Duyvil in The Bronx and Inwood in Manhattan for $23 million. Nearly all of those unsold shares were deregulated rental apartments occupied by longtime tenants." | | | | 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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