| | | | |  | | By Erin Durkin, Anna Gronewold and Deanna Garcia | Editor's Note: We're resending today's newsletter after technical issues inserted code and made our earlier version generally hard to read. We apologize for any inconvenience. Eric Adams ran for mayor vowing to drive down violent crime and restore public safety in New York City. How's he doing so far? Major crime is up 44 percent since he took office. All the standard caveats apply: It's early, really early. No one expected Adams to solve the crime problem in three months. But it's notable that not only has crime not fallen in his first months in office, it's gone up, by a lot. It underscores the tough task the freshman mayor is facing in fulfilling his No. 1 campaign promise, as our Erin Durkin and Sally Goldenberg report. Shootings, robberies, assaults and burglaries are all up, though murders have fallen a bit. Crime has risen in every borough, on the subways, and at NYCHA complexes. As he nears 100 days in office, Adams is cognizant that New Yorkers will only cut him slack as the new guy for so long. "We are definitely not at the numbers we want. We want to bring down crime," Adams said during an interview inside his city car Wednesday. "I think we are going to continue to see improvements before the summer months, when we traditionally see an increase in crime." His marquee strategies include launching an anti-gun unit at the NYPD and a new effort to crack down on lower-level crime that impacts quality of life, a tactic that had been largely abandoned. He's likely to get some, although not all, of what he wants from Albany in terms of rolling back bail reform. Will it work? Experts are divided on that. And critics on the left, already up in arms over heavy-handed policing tactics, are ready to pounce on any evidence his strategies are ineffective. The mayor runs the NYPD, but there are other factors contributing to crime: the flow of guns from outside New York, the state of the pandemic-battered economy, and crises of mental health, addiction and homelessness. Columbia Law School's Jeffrey Fagan said that given all that, no mayor can single-handedly guarantee a big drop in crime: "He'd be crazy if he said he could, because these are variables that are beyond his control."
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Mayor Eric Adams meets with the family of 12-year-old gun violence victim Kade Lewin at their home in Brooklyn on Monday, April 4, 2022. | Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office | IT'S THURSDAY. The state budget is now a week late, and tied for the second-latest budget of the past 12 years. 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? In Albany with no public events scheduled. WHERE'S ERIC? Appearing on MSNBC's Morning Joe, speaking at the unveiling of the Broadway Grand Gallery in Times Square, and meeting with clergy leaders.
| | | | DON'T MISS ANYTHING FROM THE 2022 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is excited to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage and insights from the 25th annual Global Conference. This year's event, May 1-4, brings together more than 3,000 of the world's most influential leaders, including 700+ speakers representing more than 80 countries. "Celebrating the Power of Connection" is this year's theme, setting the stage to connect influencers with the resources to change the world with leading experts and thinkers whose insight and creativity can implement that change. Whether you're attending in person or following along from somewhere else in the world, keep up with this year's conference with POLITICO's special edition "Global Insider" so you don't miss a beat. Subscribe today. | | | | | |  | What City Hall's reading | | "De Blasio promised to overhaul NYC's 'gifted' programs. Chancellor David Banks will likely shift course," by Chalkbeat's Christina Veiga : "With just three months left in his tenure, former Mayor Bill de Blasio announced one of his most controversial education proposals: to phase out the city's highly coveted gifted and talented program for elementary schoolers, which often segregate students by race and class. Instead, the city vowed to replace it with a new, yet-to-be-defined model available to every student… Education department leaders put it all together into a 32-page vision, called Brilliant NYC, for a more inclusive approach to gifted education where a single test given to preschoolers would no longer be the gatekeeper for admissions. The blueprint, a copy of which was obtained by Chalkbeat, seems to have been quietly shelved as a new administration took over promising a different approach. Now, three months into Mayor Eric Adams' tenure, his schools chancellor, David Banks, said he will soon announce what will happen to the program. The new mayor and chancellor have indicated that dramatic changes are off the table." "Lawmakers postpone decision on mayoral control of NYC schools ," by WNYC's Jessica Gould: "As state lawmakers struggle to pass this year's budget, it has become increasingly clear that one element won't be in it. Legislators said they have decided to separate mayoral control of the city's public school's from the budgetary process, and will take up the issue before the legislative session ends in June. That leaves some uncertainty around a policy that has been in place for two decades. While mayoral control is expected to be extended, there may be changes." "Adams launches new jobs initiative with Brooklyn development," by Politics NY's Ethan Stark-Miller: "In the latest move to advance his COVID-19 economic recovery plan, Mayor Eric Adams broke ground Wednesday on a new Brooklyn commercial development that'll eventually be home to city Department of Social Services offices, which he said will bring over 1,100 jobs to the area. The mayor said this is the first phase of his 'City Agencies Revitalizing the Economy' or (CARE) strategy to create jobs by bringing city agency offices to underserved communities across the city. 'When I outlined my economic recovery blueprint last month, I spoke about not going back to the way things were before the pandemic — and that is what this strategy and this groundbreaking are all about,' Adams said." "Adams dines with ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo again," by New York Post's Ian Mohr: "Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo dined with Mayor Eric Adams again Tuesday night at Daniel Boulud's French eatery Le Pavillon, Page Six has learned. Sources say Cuomo arrived at 7:15 p.m. to the upscale eatery and headed to the back of the restaurant when he spotted Adams' chief of staff Frank Carone dining with power PR veteran Ken Sunshine. Sunshine was chief of staff for Mayor David Dinkins from 1990 to 1993. A source says, 'Midway through their dinner, Cuomo arrived.' The source adds that Cuomo 'got a friendly reception' from diners. Another source tells us, 'Cuomo was stopped by nearly a dozen people to shake hands and take selfies. … People certainly responded to his presence; he had trouble making his way through the restaurant.'" "Police in New York are making more arrests, particularly on the subways," by Gothamist's Matt Katz: "The crime rate is up in New York, and so are the number of arrests, according to the NYPD's latest data. Police officials said at a press conference on Wednesday that there were 335 arrests for murder and non-fatal shootings so far this year, compared to 257 in the same period last year. Overall, through March, the NYPD hit a 21-year high in the number of arrests officers made for major crimes. In the transit system, arrests are up 64% year-over-year. There is also a dramatic increase in summons for minor "quality of life" offenses this year, including more than 17,000 for fare evasion, 1,400 for smoking, and 600 for obstruction of seats, like when someone is stretched out sleeping, police said."
| | WHAT ALBANY'S READING | | "Hochul, lawmakers continue haggling over late state budget," by Buffalo News' Robert McCarthy: "'We don't have a budget,' is how Assembly Majority Leader Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes, D-Buffalo, succinctly summed up the situation late Wednesday … The majority leader, the second ranking member of the Assembly, emphasized she is not at the table with Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. But she said her own impressions lean toward the need for extensive negotiations possibly into the weekend. 'My personal opinion is that I am hopeful we get this done this weekend,' she said." — Twelve Democrats said they're unhappy with the plan to overhaul the Joint Commission on Public Ethics. — "Concerns emerge over child care funding in New York state budget ," by Spectrum's Nick Reisman: "A proposal to boost spending for child care in the New York state budget is running into problems, with some lawmakers raising concerns over whether it could be fully funded. The development comes as lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul are continuing to negotiate a state budget that had been expected to pass on Friday and centers around what was due to be an issue most Democrats expected to support. New York officials are considering a plan that would provide child care support for families that earn 300% above the federal poverty rate with a subsidy rate of 80%. But the estimation that 15% of families that qualify would participate is considered 'ludicrously low,' according to a source on Thursday afternoon. At the same time, there are concerns over the top line proposal to fund child care in the budget. A $3 billion price tag would be split over two years." — "Hochul Opposes Rental Voucher Program On Basis of Inflated Cost Estimate, Sources Say," by New York Focus' Sam Mellins: "In private budget negotiations with the legislature, Governor Kathy Hochul is opposing a rental voucher program aimed at combating homelessness—in part because she says it'll cost more than twenty times as much as the legislature says it will, multiple sources told New York Focus. Supporters say her numbers don't make sense. In their March budget proposals, both the state Senate and Assembly allocated $250 million towards the Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP), which would distribute vouchers to low-income households experiencing homelessness or at risk of eviction. The program would not require the state to offer benefits to everyone who's eligible. Instead, it would distribute only as many vouchers as could be funded by the money allocated in the budget. Hochul has claimed it could end up costing taxpayers up to $6 billion a year, sources said, despite the fact that the legislature has only proposed allocating about four percent of that figure. "9 towns sue over state's limits on use of money from opioid settlements ," by Newsday's Michael Gormley: "Nine towns are suing to stop the state from controlling how more than $1 billion will be spent in settlements from opioid manufacturers who were accused of contributing to a statewide crisis of addiction and death. Eight of the towns are on Long Island. The constitutional clash between the power of the state and the 'home rule' protections of local government involves a 2021 state law. The measure requires money from settlements and enforcement actions 'must be used to address the harms caused by drug use and by the ways in which drug laws have been enforced.' … The towns of Babylon, Brookhaven, Hempstead, Islip, Oyster Bay, North Hempstead, Huntington, Ramapo and Smithtown claim the law violates the state and U.S. constitutions. The suit was filed March 16 in federal court, but the case has already had to be amended because it misidentified the state attorney general as 'Leticia Jones' instead of Letitia James. The towns want to spend the funds in any way they see fit beyond opioid programs, because so many other areas of their town budgets were tapped to contend with the crisis." — "Members of the state Opioid Settlement Board are calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to activate and convene the newly established group so it can provide recommendations on how the state spends money received as part of opioid litigation settlements." via Times Union's Bethany Bump #UpstateAmerica: A cat named Freddie Mercury that went missing in Ithaca was found six days later in New Jersey.
| | | | INTRODUCING DIGITAL FUTURE DAILY - OUR TECHNOLOGY NEWSLETTER, RE-IMAGINED: Technology is always evolving, and our new tech-obsessed newsletter is too! Digital Future Daily unlocks the most important stories determining the future of technology, from Washington to Silicon Valley and innovation power centers around the world. Readers get an in-depth look at how the next wave of tech will reshape civic and political life, including activism, fundraising, lobbying and legislating. Go inside the minds of the biggest tech players, policymakers and regulators to learn how their decisions affect our lives. Don't miss out, subscribe today. | | | | | | | FROM THE DELEGATION | | "How Chuck Schumer Avoided a Primary Challenge From the Left," by The New York Times' Katie Glueck, Blake Hounshell and Leah Askarinam: "Democrats were floundering, and Senator Chuck Schumer had a lot on his plate. His party couldn't pass its legislative agenda, it had just suffered major electoral losses, and he had a long list of Biden administration nominees to shepherd through. But despite his busy schedule, Schumer, the majority leader and a Democrat who embodies the party establishment, still took the time for a warm gesture to his native New York's strong progressive left. "Appearing live via video, he showed up at an inauguration celebration in December for the New York City Council's most prominent incoming left-wing member, Tiffany Cabán, who took the oath of office with the help of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Schumer's attendance was in some ways just another stop on his always-packed New York itinerary. But the moment also vividly illustrated why — barring some extraordinary development — Schumer has attracted no serious left-wing challenger to his Senate re-election bid as Thursday's primary filing deadline arrives, despite months of speculation about who might emerge. 'He's been really relational,' said Cabán, who is a favorite of the New York City Democratic Socialists. 'He shows up.'"
| | AROUND NEW YORK | | — The NYPD is providing city Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan with security after he got death threats from mask opponents. — A Sarah Lawrence cult leader was convicted of sex trafficking and extortion. — Six state attorneys general led by New York's Tish James threatened an investigation of the NFL over allegations of workplace harassment of women and minorities. — Several people were injured when a car drove onto a sidewalk in Crown Heights and rammed a building. — A new NYPD policy bans romantic relationships between bosses and subordinates. — The state Board of Elections settled a lawsuit with disability rights advocates and will allow blind voters and others with disabilities to fill out a vote by mail ballot online. — City Council members are getting help from the central budget to pay their office rents. — The state is now recommending masks in Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, and Oswego counties. — Robert Zimmerman, one of several Democrats hoping to succeed Rep. Tom Suozzi, has previously supported a border wall. — A 70-year-old woman, who was severely stabbed in the back one block away from her Brooklyn home, speaks out.
| | SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY: POLITICO's Daniel Lippman and Fernando Rodas … Kaitlan Collins … NY Post's Evan Simko-Bednarski … Maggie Severns … Insider's Darren Samuelsohn … HuffPost's Paige Lavender … Bill McQuillen of Invariant … Rick Levin ... Marissa Wizig … Ming Dang … Raymond Rodriguez of Rep. Ritchie Torres' office MEDIAWATCH — Sarah Garland is joining the New York Times Metro section as assistant editor. She was formerly at the Hechinger Report.
| | Real Estate | | "Lawmakers push for bill cracking down on landlords after historic Bronx fire," by New York Post's Reuven Fenton and Natalie O'Neill: "City council members pushed Wednesday for a package of new fire safety bills — including one that quadruples fines against negligent landlords — to prevent another disaster like the Bronx high-rise blaze that killed 17 people in January. Legislation introduced at a city council hearing by Oswald Feliz (D-Bronx), would force building owners to fix faulty self-closing doors — which helped the inferno at Twin Parks Northwest spread rapidly — in 10 days or less instead of 21 days. It also increases fines against landlords who falsely claim to have repaired the doors from around $250 to a maximum of $1,000." | | | | 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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